Imitators of God

Watch a three-year-old in a joint family. He holds his chai cup the way his father does. He folds his hands in prayer the way his mother does. He copies, and he does not know he is copying. This message is about the call in Ephesians 5:1 to be imitators of God, and what that looks like on a Monday morning.

“Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)

Imitators of God: Living a Christ-like Life

Paul is not asking you to admire God from a distance; he is asking you to copy Him the way a child copies a father. As children, we imitate our parents. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says, “Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.” We are God’s children. We have to imitate what God is. We must walk and talk like God, as children walk and talk like their father.

Why Imitating God is Important

Children represent their houses. Children don’t do what they are told to do; what they observe, they do. If you are a man of integrity and a prayerful woman, your children will be the same. Our heavenly Father is loving, caring and gracious, so when we become like Him, people recognise our Father. If we don’t follow God’s Word, we misrepresent Him. The shopkeeper who knows you go to church is watching how you settle your bill.

The Meaning of Being an Imitator of God

The word imitator comes from the Greek word mimetai, which means to mimic, to copy somebody. Paul wants you to talk, walk and behave like God. We are liars if we preach the Word but don’t follow it. You must look like God. By watching your behaviour and your attitude, people will know about God.

The Qualities of God We Must Imitate

Paul was a persecutor, but he was changed into the image of Christ. He was the bigger and more famous one, but he read how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, and he bent down too.

• When you are forgiving and loving, people will see God in you.
• Matthew 5:48 says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” It’s our job to be like the Father.
• You would feel bad if your son were addicted or in bad company when you are not like that. It hurts the Father when you don’t pray, don’t study the Word, and use wrong language.
• Jesus told the Pharisees that Satan is a liar. Lying is the devil’s language, not the Father’s.
• You are the light in your college, your office and your house. When you carry the image of God, how can you use language that God doesn’t use?
• Sin doesn’t glorify God. Jealousy, malice, hatred and bitterness don’t glorify God. Be perfect like your God.

Paul says, imitate me as I imitate God. This should be our goal, our vision and our desire: to be like our God. Sometimes we pray only for our needs and demands, but God already knows our needs and our intentions before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8). When you become like Him, your prayer changes.

The real prayer is, I want to be like you, God!

When people see you or meet you, they should feel that they have met something of God. Imitating means copying someone’s behaviour, and you are asked to imitate Christ. He said to forgive your enemies. Forgiveness is the toughest job, and He showed us how to do it, from a cross. You can be a prayer warrior and still be unforgiving. If you are not forgiving and humble, there is no use in being a prayer warrior. Matthew 5:48 says be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Don’t give excuses that you cannot be like Jesus.

Be perfect in the way you watch, talk, listen, and respond.

Every attitude and every behaviour should be like God. He is not asking you to be like your parents or your church leaders, but like Himself. As God loved the world, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 says, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Sometimes it’s tough to love our family members and friends, because we know each other’s mistakes. The first time it’s easy to love. After ten years in the same house, you should still love that person.

Even when times are hard, imitate God. Let people change or backbite; you do not change, because you are imitating God. Forgive even if the other party is not forgiving. Don’t abuse even if the other person is abusing you. People may be negative about you, talk about you or mock you. When people spat on Jesus and punched Him, He didn’t say a word. He had already said He came to do His Father’s will. If someone tries to malign your name, be like Jesus. Let God fight for you.

1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” We are imitating God, and this world is dying of sin. Maintain your eyes, your body language, your dressing, your lifestyle and your time. Paul was not only good before God; he kept his testimony in front of people also.

To imitate God, you must know God

If you want to imitate someone, you must know him. How do you know God? From the Bible. If you want to be like Jesus, and you want your family to be like God, you will read the Bible. Your knowledge about Jesus is little. Jesus is holy and calm, patient till the last moment. He doesn’t say anything wrong. He doesn’t scream. He came because of sin and to save His people, not to show off His power.

• If you are entertaining sin, you are not interested in fellowship with God. You will not enjoy worship, the Word or prayer, because of sin.
• Know the nature of God. After prayer, we are often the same, still unforgiving. Change your prayer so that you and everything around you change.
• The church today is interested in knowing celebrities. Do you have a desire to know God? Coming to church is one thing; knowing God is different.
• You may feel proud that you are in the best church or have the best pastor, but that will not help you. If your wife prays, she will go to heaven, not you. You must have your own relationship with Jesus. If you deny Him, He will deny you before the heavenly Father.

This week

• Read one chapter of a Gospel each day and write down one thing Jesus did that you would not have done.
• Pick the one person you find hardest to forgive and pray a blessing over them by name every morning.
• Before you send any angry message this week, ask, “Would the Father send this?” and delete it if not.

May the Father look at you this week and see His own likeness growing, and may your home know Him because of you. God bless you abundantly.