Imitate God

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. - Ephesians 5v1-2

This almost sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Imitate God? Not only that, but we are instructed to “imitate God as dear children.” We all know that children do tend to imitate their parents.

One of the earliest anti-smoking ads back in the seventies showed a father and son washing the car. The dad used the hose and the boy used a squirt gun. When the dad washed, the boy washed. When the dad wiped his brow the boy did the same. When they sat down the boy crossed his legs the same way the dad did. Then the dad lit up a cigarette and laid the down. The ad faded to blank when the boy reached out to pick up the cigarette pack. Effective ad, but it did show the reality of children imitating parents.

As God’s children we need to examine our lives to see if we indeed imitate our Father. The first test in the passage is that of love. “Walk in love,” we are told. And what is the pattern for imitating God in live? “As Christ loved us and gave himself for us,” is our pattern.

I have to wonder how often people look at my love and think of God’s love. Do I love like He did? Do I really imitate Him when it comes to love? Do I love with the kind of that would give of me completely?