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Ephesians 5:1 - Be Imitators Of God.Ephesians 5:1 (NIV) Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.INTRODUCTION Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate God. We do that by modeling our lives after Jesus, who, as the Son of God, was the incarnation of God on earth. His great love for us led him to sacrifice himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind - a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL At any moment you can call on your heavenly Father and He will hear you. From anywhere on earth, you can approach the throne of thrones. With one breath you can be in conversation with God. The access we have to God as His children is incredible. Yet, simply having access isn't the main goal. Instead, we should aim to grow into the likeness of our heavenly Father - to grow up and reflect Him. Scripture invites us to be imitators of God. This means we are to follow God's example and do what God does. We're to think what God thinks. We're to care how God cares. We're to imitate our perfect heavenly Father the same way children imitate their earthly fathers. We have a responsibility and an opportunity to grow up and act like God. At first glance, you might think this is impossible. How can we imitate the divine? But imitating God is not out of reach for anyone who follows Jesus. He has equipped you with everything you need, and if He calls you to it, He will help you fulfill it. Dear God, would You help me to think, act, and love like You do today? I want to look like You, so bring forth Your likeness through my living. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] COMMENTARY God's ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning. The tempter's agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God. The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. As the Son of man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their life. Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man; yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was God in the flesh. His character is to be ours. The Lord says of those who believe in Him, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 2 Corinthians 6:16. DA 311 LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Ephesians 5:1 - Righteous, Holy, And New. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250507-1434.html Matthew 5:48 - Be Perfect As Your Father In Heaven Is Perfect. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240808-1225.html 1 Peter 1:14-16 - Be Holy for I Am Holy! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2004/20040909-0902.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |