January 29, 2025 BE IMITATORS
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
We may view imitating in a negative light as our culture values individuality and being original-‘being our own person.’ We use to use the phrase ‘copy cat’ in a critical way. Do not misunderstand; God created us with our own personalities; we are unique. This passage begins with an amazing statement; ‘Therefore be imitators of God.’ This is not a commandment to be fake or to put up a front. A basic truth we must remember is that we were created in the image of God. Also, we must remember that a transformation takes place in those who are in Christ. Being in Christ means that we have been given new spirits, new hearts and new natures. When we discover our identity in Christ, we have new desires and appetites and importantly, we have the power to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Imitating Christ is not something we must try to do in our own strength; we can imitate Christ only because He has and is transforming us into His own image. To imitate Christ is the highest privilege we have on this earth. It is amazing, but we represent Christ in this world-you and I; so as we imitate Him, we are being light. God is compassionate, forgiving, merciful, loving, full of grace, wise-and much more. As His children, and because we have the Holy Spirit living in us and enabling us, we can be imitators of God-today, right where we are.
1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lust which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Blessings, Buddy
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
We may view imitating in a negative light as our culture values individuality and being original-‘being our own person.’ We use to use the phrase ‘copy cat’ in a critical way. Do not misunderstand; God created us with our own personalities; we are unique. This passage begins with an amazing statement; ‘Therefore be imitators of God.’ This is not a commandment to be fake or to put up a front. A basic truth we must remember is that we were created in the image of God. Also, we must remember that a transformation takes place in those who are in Christ. Being in Christ means that we have been given new spirits, new hearts and new natures. When we discover our identity in Christ, we have new desires and appetites and importantly, we have the power to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Imitating Christ is not something we must try to do in our own strength; we can imitate Christ only because He has and is transforming us into His own image. To imitate Christ is the highest privilege we have on this earth. It is amazing, but we represent Christ in this world-you and I; so as we imitate Him, we are being light. God is compassionate, forgiving, merciful, loving, full of grace, wise-and much more. As His children, and because we have the Holy Spirit living in us and enabling us, we can be imitators of God-today, right where we are.
1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lust which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Blessings, Buddy
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