“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1 ESV
Next time you read the Bible, consider asking Him to show you how to imitate him better. Here are a few examples.
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.’” Exodus 34:6 ESV
We can look for ways to be more merciful, and to show more grace. We can be slower to anger, and increase the amount of love we show others. Perhaps there are chances to be more faithful in the little things.
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV
God is slow to anger, but he has his limits. He hates certain things. Jesus was angry in the temple, with righteous indignation. Maybe we should be more outraged, but only in the ways God is. “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:20 ESV
“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” Luke 7:34 ESV
Jesus had a reputation of being a Friend of Sinners. Are there ways we can be not just compassionate, but truly a friend of those who are at the bottom of society?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 ESV
God is the Creator. When we, too, are creative, we emulate him. The same idea appears in Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” When we make things with our hands, we imitate him.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
In this verse, God is a rescuer, One who calms children, one who celebrates, and he is a singer. When we behave in these ways, he is expressing part of himself through us. Some of us may benefit from singing even more than we already do, or putting extra effort into rescuing (whatever that means for you), or being freer to celebrate things that deserve a party.
When we go to God’s Word, we can ask him to expand our vision of how to be imitators of Him. Everything good comes from him, James 1:17, including the ability to be super analytical, gifted in caring for animals, or being a good leader. Maybe ask him to increase your vision of how you already are imitating him and just weren’t aware of it.
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