I remember back, nearly 15 years when my children were in elementary school. They loved to pick on each other and annoy in any way possible. We spent many hours in the car to and from activities and I distinctly remember my son imitating every movement and sound my daughter made. It went on forever. Even though my daughter protested and kept telling him to stop and asking me to make him stop, he continued to repeat every word she said! He did a really good job at imitating everything that his sister did.
Although my daughter hated this little game my son frequently played, we see today that Paul calls us to be imitators! Not imitators of each other, or anyone we may aspire to be, but to be imitators of God.
Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters.
Ephesians 5:1
To imitate God is to show grace and mercy. God has shown grace and mercy to us through His son Jesus. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life as a sacrifice for us even though we did not deserve it. He loved us so much we wouldn’t have to remain in sin but so that we could be forgiven of our sins. We then could be adopted as children into the family of God.
In the verses preceding Ephesians 5:1, Pauls calls on us to be kind, tender-hearted and forgiving of each other.
Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? The graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.
Ephesians 4:31-32
This week let us walk in love. Let us be imitators of God. Let us show grace and mercy to others. Let our words be spoken with truth in love. And let us share the good news of Christ to a world that needs to hear this good news.
Let us be filled with His Word and imitate Him!