“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” – Ephesians 5:1
One great skill we humans have is the art of imitating. Actually, we are so good with imitating that most of the time we find ourselves fake or we will just then realize that we are not ourselves anymore. Everything we see that we think is good and nice, we always try to imitate it. If one woman has a better sense of fashion than you, then in some way, you imitate it. A lot of people also claim that they are not imitators and they have their own styles, but even if we admit it or not, we love to imitate. Now, the problem here is that even if how good we can imitate, we always don’t want to imitate God’s example.
Instead of using this skill for the greater good, we just don’t want or can’t imitate God’s example. Our verse today is just a reminder for us that we must follow or other translations would use, “imitate” so that we will really have the right understanding of what God really wants us to do. He wants us to imitate His example for we are His children. So, the problem is, no matter how much we imitate other people, if we cannot imitate God’s example, we will never be good or righteous. In other words, we are so easy and fast to imitate others, but we don’t want to imitate God because we know that in our worldly mind, we will never enjoy life.
However, this mindset is very wrong. Before completely imitating God, we have to check if we have the attitude or capability to do so. The reason why it is so easy to imitate worldly things is that, by nature, we are sinful and bound to worldly satisfaction. So, in order to imitate God, our nature should change– we have to change. If we are of the world, that’s why we can imitate the world, then we have to be of God so that we will be able to imitate Him. That is why the last part of our verse today is highlighting how we are children of God. If we are children of God, then we can follow and imitate God’s example.
Therefore, in order to do this, we have to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. We have to understand that only through Him, we will become children of God. As we become His children, we will then have the strength to follow Him and imitate His example who is Christ our Lord. We can only be called His children through Christ, and we must follow and imitate His life as we live as children of God. Thus, it is Christ alone, and only through Him we can be saved, we can be children of God, and we can have eternal life. Amen and amen.
