Imitate = 1. To try to follow the manner, style, character, etc., of or take as a model
2. To appear like; resemble.
3. To copy the actions, appearance, mannerisms, or speech of; mimic

The #1 person we imitate the most is our parents. It doesn’t matter your age, color, shoe size, ect, we all (whether we like it or not) start to see ourselves become like our own parents sooner or later. I tell my Dad all the time that he got lot’s of his good traits from me, but he insists that I got them from him. He’s crazy.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ll be out with Audrey and I’ll say something or make a certain facial expression and she’ll freak out and tell me that I’m just like my Dad. Then we talk about how one day, I won’t have any hair (just like my Dad) and how she’s thought it through and decided that she is okay with and excepts that fact and is ready to put up with me hairless one day. Isn’t she great?!

I thought it was pretty interesting how the end of the verse says, “As dearly loved children.” The message version says this, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.”

What would happen if we started picking up the traits, characteristics, mannerisms and speech of God like we do our parents? What would happen if our lives actually resembled Christ’s life? What if when people looked at us, they saw God? What would happen if we spent so much time with God that we actually started to become like him?

How do you know if someone is an Imitator of God? Well, look at their life! Follow them for a day or two and see how they treat they’re friends, family and spouse. Watch how they handle hard situations and how they react under pressure. Watch the things they look at online or listen to on their Ipod. Go look at the movies they’ve rented from Blockbuster that are sitting by their TV. Watch the way they treat their kids. Watch the way they look at and talk to the opposite sex when their spouse isn’t around. Watch the way they take care of their health and house. Watch someone hurt them and see how quick they are to forgive.

See, most of us (I know I did at least) cringe and freak out at the very thought of someone being able to watch us that much and see all the things that we think no one can. What if your best friend or spouse could read all your thoughts you had in one day on a TV screen? Does that make you feel a little uncomfortable? What happened to taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ? (2 Cor 10:5)

As much as we would want to crawl into a hole and die if we found out someone was reading our thoughts and was watching us when we thought we were alone, I think you know what I’m going to say next. GOD DOES!

He see’s everything! He watches us be idiots over and over again and still he, as our HEAVENLY FATHER, unconditionally loves us! That’s why Paul uses the example “As dearly loved children” over and over again in his letters. He wants us to see that GOD is our HEAVENLY FATHER and that WE are his CHILDREN and WE should become IMITATORS of GOD in the same we that we as EARTHLY CHILDREN become IMITATORS of our EARTHLY FATHERS. Don’t you get it?!

Can you honestly say that God looks down from heaven and watches your everyday actions, thoughts, choices and words and calls you an imitator of of him? Are you even trying to be an Imitator of God, or are you just trying to be an Imitator of a “Christian” or a “Believer” or a “Religious” person?!