Isnt it endearing to see a child mimicking his parents? How often weve seen the young boy in a car seat, gripping his imaginary steering wheel intently while keeping a close eye on the driver to see what Daddy does next.
I remember doing the same thing when I was young. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than doing exactly what my dad didand Im sure he got an even bigger kick watching me copy his actions.
I would like to think God felt the same way when He saw His dearest Son doing exactly what the Father didreaching out to the lost, helping the needy, and healing the sick. Jesus said, "the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19).
We too are called to do the sameto follow Gods example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love (Eph. 5:12). As we continue growing to be more like Jesus, may we seek to love like the Father loves, forgive like He forgives, care like He cares, and live in ways that please Him. It is a delight to copy His actions, in the power of the Spirit, knowing that our reward is the affectionate, tender smile of a loving Father.
Our Daily Bread welcomes writer Leslie Koh! Meet Leslie and all our authors at odb.org/all-authors.
The theme of following God appears throughout all of Scripture. In the Old Testament, Moses warned the Israelites not to live like the Canaanites when they entered the Promised Land: Do not follow their practices (Lev. 18:3) or imitate the detestable ways of the nations there (Deut. 18:9). Instead they were to obey and follow Gods laws (Lev. 18:4, 2630). They were His chosen people. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples . . . to be his people, his treasured possession (Deut. 7:67; 14:2; 26:18).
In the New Testament, the apostle Peter says that believers in Christ are also a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods special possession (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, we are to imitate God: Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do (1:15). We are to live radically different from the world, to be perfect, as [our] heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48), to be merciful, just as [our] Father is merciful (Luke 6:36), to love as God loves (Eph. 5:12).
As we reflect on the challenge to imitate God, we can ask, If I am not following Gods example, who am I imitating? Sim Kay Tee