Imitation of Christ
by Maria Rudolph
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Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1).
Could you start this devotional time by pausing and thinking of people in your life you have aspired to be like? Who are they? What qualities do they have that you admire and want to imitate? How has who you want to be like changed over the cause of your life?
Paul, as he wrote the epistle to the Ephesian Christians, asks them, and now also asks us, to imitate God. What an impossibly big pair of shoes to fill! Do you think it went down smoothly when the letter was first read out to the group gathered at the seaport of Ephesus? It’s all a question of what attributes there are to aspire to. The Greco-Roman gods of the ancient world didn’t have a great track record when it came to moral or even decent behaviour. Sexual misconduct, killings, betrayal and deceit was common and made for the most exciting stories of Greek and Roman mythology. The God of Hosts, the one true God, was of a completely new calibre and it is still those same attributes that we love and admire about God. They are listed over and over in the Old Testament and are elaborated on at length in the New Testament. ‘The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love’ (Psalm 103:8).
Aren’t these all great things to aspire to ourselves? I am almost certain that some of the people you listed at the beginning of the devotion embody some of those qualities in one way or another. I am sure that what draws you to them and makes you want to be like them is a glimpse of your loving Father’s heart.
In today’s passage, we find a list of behaviours that express the opposite of those godly attributes. There is also advice to steer clear of the people who display them. Would that leave any people for us to interact with at all? Would we need to try and avoid our own glance in the mirror? But avoidance isn’t the end goal in any Christian teaching. It’s never about a ‘they’ and ‘us’ mentality. Each and every one of us is on a journey with our Lord and Saviour. The path looks different for everyone but there are two constants. We all have the same starting point: we all are dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1). And we all have the same destination, eternal life with God. Within this framework, there are endless possibilities of how your life will play out exactly. And we have the assurance that when we strive to be imitators of God, we will keep our eyes fixed on the goal!
Holy Spirit, fill me afresh. I have so many failings and shortcomings, but I offer myself up to serve God today with all that I am and all that I have. I need your help every step of the way. Please help me to strive to be godly in everything I say, do and think. Because I am loved by God, I can love other people. Help me share that love abundantly today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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