From imitators

"Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved you." Ephesians 5. 1, 2

Most men and women tend, sometimes unconsciously, to imitate the people they admire. Young people will easily emulate the dress, the way of life, the language and even the accent of the stars of the "show-bizz" or the sport of which they are fans. It is the same for the older ones who are likely to imitate the people for whom they have respect, esteem or admiration. And the children ? They tend to imitate those around them whom they admire, their schoolmaster of course, but especially their parents ; hence the heavy responsibility of these in the education of children, because they often reproduce what they see doing at home !

Believers keep this tendency to imitate; they can draw inspiration from people who have persevered or suffered for the cause of Christ or who have been faithful to proclaim the Word of God. Yet their true model is of course the Lord, especially in love (verse of the day).

Because he lived in such dependence and closeness to his Master, Paul said, without an ounce of pride in his words : "Be my imitators, as I am also of Christ "(1 Corinthians 11: 1). And he is certainly glad to be able to say to the Thessalonians, "You have become our imitators and those of the Lord" (1 Thes. What, then, is Paul's secret to allow himself to make such remarks ? "The things that to me were a gain, I considered them, because of Christ, as a loss" (Phil 3: 7). And what is his purpose, what is his method ? "I do one thing : forgetting what is behind and straining with effort toward what is ahead, I run straight to the point for the price of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13). A whole program ! ... A program to imitate !

Children of God, we can have great esteem for brothers and sisters who have marked us with their fidelity to the Lord, or who have brought us much spiritually. Let us not try to "copy" them, but imitate their faith (Hebrews 13: 7).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)