Imitate

Ephesians 5:1 NLT Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

In our culture, an “imitation” is often considered a cheap, inferior copy—a fake or counterfeit that falls short of the original. Imitations are typically frowned upon, but not so with God. He is inviting us to follow His lead and to be like Him in all His ways, keeping and reproducing all of His divine nature.

The word for “imitate” is the Greek word mimētēs, which means “to mimic.” “Mimic” means to reproduce or copy closely by following a pattern. Think of how a ventriloquist studies a famous person’s voice and mannerisms to mimic or duplicate their voice. Paul is encouraging us to follow the pattern and example of God. If you want to put it simply, “Be godlike.” God created man in His image (Genesis 1:27) to reflect Him and be His image bearer. That is the goal of a Christ-centered life.

There was another in scripture that wanted to be godlike, but in a very different manner. In Isaiah 14:14, Lucifer said, “I will make myself like the Most High.” The Hebrew word for “like” in Isaiah 14:14 is dāmâ, meaning Lucifer wanted to be comparable or equal to God. That is the lie of Satan, distorting the truth that if we follow our own desires, throw overboard all restrictions, cast aside all authority, and do what we want to do, we can be God. In contrast, Paul was encouraging us to be a reflection of God, not trying to be his equal, but like looking in a mirror: “And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from glory to glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

If we are going to be an exact replica, a reflection of God’s nature and ways, then we need to know Him and study His ways, learning His desires and His dislikes. But there is a distinction between who God is and what God does. God is love, God is good, and God is just, showing no partiality. God does redeem, restore, provide, and protect; these are the things we trust God and lean into Him for. When we try to take responsibility for the things God does, stepping into a role that is God’s alone, we have crossed into trying to be our own redeemer, provider, or protector. We are allowing pride to put us into a position of replacing God, being His equal, just as Lucifer did.

The constant call in scripture is for us to know Him and be like Him. “The Lord says: The wise must not boast in their wisdom, the mighty must not boast in their power, and the wealthy must not boast in their riches. If you’re going to boast, then boast about this: that you understand my ways and know my heart, and you know that I am the Lord. Let the wise boast in knowing how I demonstrate infinite love, true justice, and righteousness, for these are the things that delight my heart,” declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). The call is that if we understand His ways and know His heart, then and only then can we be an accurate representation of Him on earth.

The question we must answer is “Are we trying to be the ‘best version of ourselves’ or focused on imitating Jesus?” Being a reflection of God is letting your life, character, and actions always point toward His nature. This will never happen out of our own desires and strength. Colossians 3:10,12 tells us to “put on the new self, which God is constantly renewing in his own image, and clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” This new wardrobe, which clothes the believer, comes only by surrender, by allowing the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit to empower us and identify us as Spirit-filled, Christ-followers that imitate God, clothed in His wardrobe so all those around us will see Him and His glory.  Let’s imitate Jesus in everything we do.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 NLT We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.

Hebrews 6:11-12 NLT Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

1 Peter 1:14-16 NLT So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Matthew 5:46-48 NLT If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:35-36 NLT Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

John 1:12-13 NLT But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Hosea 1:10 NLT Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, You are not my people, it will be said, You are children of the living God.

Philippians 2:14-15 NLT Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.