Imitate!

Imitate!

Ephesians 5:1 AMPC

[1] THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father..

What does it mean to imitate? Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as ' to copy, mimic, or follow the behavior, speech, actions, or style of someone or something else, often serving as a model. It involves reproducing or acting like another to learn, play, or mock'. I do not know if you noticed the end of the definition above, but please note that for all the good that imitation may present, there is also the evil that it can lead to. Imitation means that someone considers the behaviour, speech, actions, or style of one person as  something to be copied, whether good or bad. This is where the eternal becomes important. Whatever is being imitated grows beyond just the person who is being imitated, or even the person doing the imitation. Take all of that in, as we consider the life of the man who was inspired to write the words of the verse above.

 First, this was a man who the world would say had a terrible past. Indeed, he also owned up to this truth. He was popular with the Jewish leaders of his time, because he was attacking those who had found faith in Jesus. Thank God he had an amazing encounter with God on his way to Damascus. His life turned around, and he began to defend the things he used to oppose. He is credited with writing more than half of the letters of the new testament. That is impact. It was not always about how you start, but how you arrive. There may have been nothing obvious to imitate about Paul's early life, at least, for those who were followers of Jesus, but we know what the latter part of the life of Paul looked like. He became a mentor to quite ait of people, young and old. As I consider my own life today, are there people who are glad that I am in their lives? 

Consider the many letters he wrote, and I am not sure many of us have come to realise that many of these letters were co-written with others. Some were with Silas, some with Timothy, and, in an instance, with Sosthenes. At a time, Timothy was not even known, and many of the Jews did not like him, but by the mentorship and guidance of Paul, Timothy became a name to be reckoned with. Like a true father, Paul provided examples that other people could emulate. Can the same be said of me? Paul was confident to speak the way he did here, because he had also been helped. He had now become the public image of a private walk with God. As it is not possible for man to see God physically, what other better way is there to know who God is, does, or likes, than to see how His children represent Him? Is there any eternal good to be had from anyone imitating my life? God's time of favour is here.