Who Do You Imitate?

Warriors Arise: February 22, 2022

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 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.

I am like Christ, an imitator of God.

When I was growing up, I wanted to be like my dad. I will never be my dad but I can be like my dad. There are some things that come naturally because it is in the genes. There are other things that are picked up because we spend time together.

Years ago, I was teaching a class and I realized I said something Dad always says when he is about to make an important point. I hadn't been under Dad's teaching for decades but what I learned as a child came out when I was in the position of teaching. He will say the word, "Listen," and pause slightly before making his point. He might say, "Now listen". I had watched Dad teach hundreds of kids on the basketball court, the softball field, and in the classroom. I had watched him preach as a pastor supply preacher. I had listened to him give counsel, instructions, specific plays and strategies for years. I had been under Dad's teaching in school and as an athlete. He uses the word to get the attention of everyone in the classroom room, in the huddle on the softball field, those on the bench during a timeout of a basketball game.

The word just feel out of my mouth. It wasn't planned but I had hit the moment of intensity where if there was anything I wanted the people to hear, it was the point I was about to make. I had heard it so many times, at just the right moment of intensity, it was activated when I was in the zone, wanting people to pay attention to what was about to be said. I wasn't taught to say it, but through being intent about hearing what my dad said it tumbled out of my mouth when I was in the zone.

It works the same way with little children who cuss. When a parent is teaching their children to speak, I have never heard them teach their child a cuss word. However, I have heard children say, "It just slipped out". Why did it slip out? Because they were in the same emotional or situational event that they heard their parents use the cuss words and the string of cuss words came tumbling out just like they had heard from their parents. The parents can get all upset with their child but ultimately they were the ones to teach them the cuss words. They were the ones to show their child when it was acceptable to use. no one reprimanded them so why would the child think they would get in trouble?

My point in these illustrations is to identify that the more we see God at work, we will automatically begin doing. The Bible tells us Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing.

John 14:7-17 (NASB) If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

It would appear that Jesus is a little hurt by the fact that Philip has asked to see the Father. This may stretch your mind as it has strengthen mine. We are to be one with the Father as Jesus is one with the Father. Jesus prays for us to have this understanding and relationship with His Father.

John 17:20-21 (NAS) “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Jesus prays we would be one with the Father as He is one with the Father. He wants people to recognize Christ in us, in our actions, in our words. He wants people to recognize believers because they see God in them, in what they do, in what they say, in how they live.

I am like Christ, an imitator of God.

Father, Jesus prayed we would be one with You. He prayed we would one with You as He is one with You. There is a way in which we can represent You so well people will know we are Your children. I ask for be mroelike You. I want to study your works and all Jesus did when He walked the earth so that people recognize You in me and me in You in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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