Be Imitators Of God – Easy, Right?
~ Today’s Scripture Art and mini Bible study were designed to help us be imitators of God and write Ephesians 5:1 on our hearts. ~
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Don’t you get a kick out of those times when God gets a theme going for your week and He hits you with it from all different angles in different circumstances for several days in a row?
Maybe it depends on the theme. {grin}
My story today begins when I was asked to hand-letter a verse for our women’s ministry breakfast. I thought it was such a cute idea when they suggested to use flowers and bees for …
Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV): Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
“Bee” imitators of God.
Isn’t that the cutest?
And what a great verse. I like it. I do it, even.
{Insert screeching record sound.}
Well. I should have known that God had more in store for me and that verse than just lettering.
The “Be imitators of God” theme kept popping up right and left!
Don’t think for a moment that was coincidence.
It all started with a quick word study of the verse, which I usually do before I sit down to letter. I looked up the word “imitator” to see if there was some nuance in the original word that I needed to know. There wasn’t. It means just what we think it means: to emulate.
But I did find one interesting tidbit. This word (Strong’s #3402) is always used positively in the New Testament for followers of Christ emulating a God-approved example.
In our English language, we can imitate good or bad people, right? But it appears they had a whole separate word for followers of Christ who imitated God.
I like that! I wish we had a separate word too. After all, we are supposed to be set apart.
2 Timothy 2:21 (CSB): So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
So, I finished the verse, turned it in, and went on my merry way.
Or so I thought.
Turns out God wasn’t done with this theme.
I was looking up 1 Thessalonians (not Ephesians, I might add) in my Study Bible for Women when – double-take – there jumping off the page was a whole boxed-in section on “imitate.”
I found out this word (the same #3402 – mimétés) is where we get our English word “mime.”
“A mime performs without words, and a convincing performance focuses the audience’s attention on the story or message being presented. Paul emphasized the integrity of the gospel by clarifying that the good news had come not only in words but also in the Holy Spirit’s power to transform lives. Authentic Christians do not present the gospel with words alone but also by imitating Christ in their lives; Christian living means acting like Jesus.”
I had to ask myself: Do I give a convincing performance? One that focuses the audience’s attention on the message?
Do other people think I imitate Jesus?
Here’s the verse that paragraph was referencing …
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (CSB): and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Ok. This was way more than merely imitating Jesus. These folks were imitating Jesus in spite of severe persecution.
Do I imitate Jesus no matter what?
These verses were a gift to me, because they made me realize I hadn’t been imitating Jesus after experiencing a mild persecution. Emphasis on the word mild – silly really, compared to what the Thessalonians went through. I won’t go into the details, but the details don’t matter anyway. What matters is learning how to react like Jesus did. Learning how to imitate God.
1 Peter 2:23 (NLT): He [Jesus] did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
Luke 23:34 (ESV): And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
I knew what I had to do. I was only responsible for my part – my reaction – not anyone else. And boy, do I feel better now after forgiving and repenting.
Lesson learned – check. God must be done with this theme.
Wrong.
I have been reading Kelly Balarie’s new book, Battle Ready, which releases on July 3rd. (I can’t wait to share this book with you next week! You will not want to miss it.)
Kelly said, “Get near Him. Move with Him. Be full of His Word. Let His fruit be your high desire. His life become your metric. Let His goals be your vision. Let His sacrifice make way for yours. His memories become your memories. Let His hope consume you. Let His heart refine you. His humility teach you. Don’t be afraid to let Him flood your world.”
Kelly was right on theme.
Let His life become your metric.
Move with Him.
Let His sacrifice make way for yours.
Let Him flood your world. And then …
John 7:38 (ESV): Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Now that’s my kind of heart. Let’s pray for that.
Theme over, Lord?
Nope. One more!
While reading my current Bible study: Open Your Bible, I read this:
“God’s Word is transformative in its very nature, and it will transform us.”
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Then it finally hits me.
Maybe instead of trying and trying to imitate God, I should let Him transform me.
How? His Word.
Lightbulb!
In all the instances above, would I have learned how to imitate God – and had any transformation at all – if I hadn’t been in the Word?
I think not.
John 13:15 (NLT): I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
The Example we are to imitate is found in the Word.
*My prayer for you is … that this blog will inspire you to open your Bible every single day to seek God’s face and write His Word on your heart – because HE’S the key to lasting heart change!
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Woot! Today’s post was featured at Maree Dee’s Grace & Truth Link Up!
I link up with these blogger friends: Arabah Joy at Grace & Truth, Deb at Faith ‘n Friends, Create With Joy at Inspire Me Monday, Kelly at Purposeful Faith, Holley at Coffee For Your Heart and Rachel at #DestinationInspiration and Kelly at #BVNetworkParty.
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