Pastor Chris
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children (Ephesians 5:1).
The Greek word for "followers" as used in our theme scripture is "mimetis"
and it means to imitate or follow; copying someone, following how he does what
he does. Therefore, the verse can as well read, "Be ye therefore imitators of
God." That means emulate or copy Him; act and talk like Him; follow His ways of
doing things. The reason this is possible is that we have His life.
have His life. Someone might say, "Isn’t that going too far, to say we’re
like God?" Well, the Bible says in 1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in
this world." Notice it didn’t say, "As He is, so shall we be when we get to
heaven"; no, we’re as He is, here in this world, because He imparted His life in
our spirits through the Word.
The Lord Jesus said in John 17:22-23, "And the glory which thou gavest me I
have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou
in me, that they may be made perfect in one. And that the world may know that
thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." Jesus gave us
the same glory that the Father gave Him. As God’s children, we’re the carriers,
as well as the effulgence of God’s glory. God’s purpose wasn’t just to have His
glory reside in us, but for us to become the glory, just like Jesus.
Now you can understand why He commissioned us to preach the Gospel, pray for
the sick, and manifest His glory everywhere, just as He did. We don’t merely
talk love, we act it, and manifest love because that’s the way He is. Likewise,
just as the Lord Jesus loved the Father and expressed that love openly, we also
love the Father and show it; we worship and talk about Him boldly.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you
that I have the life and nature of God in me. I’m strengthened and energized by
this knowledge to boldly declare the message of your salvation to others that
they may receive the same Christ-life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d y:
Acts 17:28; Romans 8:17 Daily Scripture Reading
1 Year Reading Plan : 2 Peter 2, Ezekiel 3-42 Year Reading Plan : Revelation 3:1-10, Hosea 9-10
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