Imitators of Christ

READ: JOHN 13:1-17; EPHESIANS 5:1-2

Have you ever seen a child imitating an adult? It can be so cute to watch a small child try to mix pretend food in empty pots, imitate a parent’s expression, or repeat a phrase they haven’t fully mastered yet. That’s how kids learn. They imitate the people they see.

The Bible says something similar in Ephesians 5:1: “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” But we weren’t always God’s children. In fact, at one time we were all separated from God because of our sin. But God loves us so much that Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross to save us, and He rose from the dead to make the way for us to be with Him always. Once we put our trust in Jesus, we can know that we have been adopted into His family and we belong to Him forever. And, just as kids imitate the people they spend the most time with, God calls His children to imitate Jesus.

So how can we imitate Jesus? Well, we can start by looking at what He said and did in the Bible. As we read and study God’s Word, we see how much He loves us. Especially in the accounts of Jesus’s ministry on earth, it’s captivating to see how Jesus responded to people. No matter if they treated Him with honor or contempt, Jesus wanted them to know His love (Matthew 9:36; 23:37; Luke 23:34). We can also learn about His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is God the Son, and He loved and trusted the Father through everything. And in all kinds of situations, Jesus’s character was revealed by His actions. As we study Jesus’s life and trust Him to help us follow His example in our own lives, we will act more and more like Him.

Of course, none of this is possible in our own strength, but as Christians we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, transforming us into Jesus’s image. When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we can learn how to “live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ” (Ephesians 5:2). • A. W. Smith

• Everyone imitates other people—from little kids to elderly adults. Can you think of anyone you imitate, whether intentionally or unintentionally? Why do you think that might be?

• In John 13:1-17, what do you notice about how Jesus acts and how He treats people? Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you learn how you can imitate Jesus in your life. If you want to dig deeper, you could start reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)