We are all imitating someone in this world. What does being an imitator mean? It means to copy the behavior or actions of another (dictionary). Who are we copying? Are we in love with the culture around us and just imitating famous people we admire? Are we imitating famous Christians even? Or, are we imitating God? Ephesians 5 calls us to imitate God.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them–Ephesians 5:1-7
When I look at my own life I ask myself, do I imitate God. Do I know God? Can I imitate someone I do not know? Am I making time to truly know who God is? How can I know more of God, in order to imitate God more? Am I living a life of love to be imitated? (IF: Equip Bible Study)
Am I a good witness to those around me that don’t know Christ? Am I imitating a famous Christian or am I imitating Christ? Am I making time to be in God’s Word everyday. Not just read it, but actually be present reading it. Through the busyness of full-time ministry, I sometimes get so wrapped into the day to day, that imitating Christ gets pushed to the side and I find myself saying, “When I have more time, when I get more sleep, when life slows down….etc.” Do the words I speak bring life to those around me? Am I filled with thankfulness, or am I dragged down by the hard days of full-time ministry?
This passage just points to Jesus. It points to the fallen-ness of humankind. We struggle to imitate God; we don’t always speak life and are not always thankful. But the Good News of the Gospel is we don’t have to have it together. We have a personal relationship with Jesus who died for our sins, rose again and saved us! With Jesus, we can imitate God; rearrange who we are to join where He is (Jo Saxton). Once we take our eyes of ourselves and just look to Jesus, our only response is gratitude (Sissy Mathew).
I pray we would be people that would imitate Christ and be known for imitating Christ. I pray we would look internally and rearrange who we are to be where God is. Would we not just get dragged down by the stresses of everyday life, but instead be people who exert thanksgiving, even during the hard days.
Trudy Woodward
Lydia House Director