Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."
Text: Ephesians 5:1
THE TEACHING OF THE LORD JESUS
Paul was not the first person to urge believers to be “imitators of God”. The Lord Jesus Himself taught this great truth. The Gospel writer Matthew recorded these words of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore you shall be perfect,
just as Your Father in heaven is perfect.
MATTHEW 5:48
What did Jesus have in mind when He uttered these words? Let us consider the following thoughts:-
1. Not sinless perfection
The Lord Jesus did not expect His disciples to possess sinless perfection. That would be impossible!
2. The loftiest Example
Jesus wanted His disciples to consider God as the Loftiest of Examples, for a good many reasons:-
a) Even if we fail, we must seek to be conscious of God as our example.
b) There is no other example worth talking about.
c) It will challenge every believer to strive for greater heights of spirituality.
DEEPLY MOVED BY WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US
As far as Paul was concerned, God had done enough for His children to warrant their attempting to imitate Him. In order to truly desire to imitate God, we need to be deeply inspired.
What are some truths that should deeply motivate our hearts to imitate God our Father?
1. The blessings of God outpoured should inspire us to imitate Him (Cf. Ephesians 1:3-14).
2. The love of God outpoured should inspire us much (Cf. Ephesians 2:4).
3. Our being created anew in Christ should inspire us (Cf. Ephesians 4:24)
THEREFORE BE IMITATORS OF GOD
The inferential particle strongly suggests that the individual child of God has every reason to imitate God. A thorough and sound appreciation of what God has done should cause us to desire to be “imitators of God”. Every genuine believer should aspire to reflect the glory of God through walking in His ways.