Imitate God

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

The words that the apostle Paul addresses to the Ephesians are part of a very profound and extensive exhortation, which has moral and spiritual relevance for us today. The complete expression reads: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (vv. 1-2). How can we model our lives on God's character? He is holy, loving, merciful, and just beyond our comprehension, yet the apostle invites us to strive to reflect these attributes in our daily behavior, imitating him, being like him. After all, we were made in his image and likeness, but it is not always easy to put words into action. Paul offers us a tip, rooting the invitation in our current relationship with him: we are considered beloved children, dearly loved. Therefore, just as children learn from their parents, we too are called to look to the Father and live according to his example, that is, to walk in love. Jesus showed the greatest love by giving himself for humanity, so we must love with the same spirit of sacrifice, and in particular forgive as He did (Luke 23:24). The previous chapter, in fact, ended with these words: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you” (4:32).

Forgive and forgive ourselves? When someone offends us, our first impulse may be to respond harshly or to hold a grudge. Instead of reacting with revenge or slander, we can choose to respond with kindness, avoid resentment, and, if possible, speak to them without a spirit of revenge. Imitating God means choosing to forgive, even if it is difficult, because He forgave us through Christ, even though we did not deserve it. And do you know what happened? He forgot everything, because the blood of Jesus wiped away our sins forever: forgetting forever: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). God shows mercy to those who have done wrong, otherwise He would not be God. And we cannot choose whom to forgive. Corrie Ten Boom's Dutch family helped many Jews escape from the Nazis during World War II. Unfortunately, they were discovered and Corrie was arrested and imprisoned in a concentration camp, where she saw her sister die from the cruelty she suffered. Years after the war, she was a guest at a German church to speak about Christian forgiveness. Among the listeners was a man whom she recognized as one of her tormentors in the camp. At the end, he approached her to say goodbye. Corrie recounts that she felt hatred, pain, and anger inside her. She did not feel she could forgive him, but she remembered Jesus' words about forgiveness and prayed silently for the strength to love that man.

 So she chose to shake his hand, and in that gesture she experienced a peace and love that was beyond her strength. Imitating God is not always spontaneous, but it is often a choice of faith, like forgiving someone seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:21-22). There are certainly situations where forgiveness seems impossible, but deciding to love and forgive as God does is a powerful way to live. I recently heard the story of a Korean pastor, Pak Chong-gon or Joon Gon Kim (I am not sure of the exact name). During the Korean War in 1948, North Korean troops killed two of his sons in front of the entire family. Later, United Nations troops captured one of the soldiers responsible for the killings, and during the trial, the pastor asked that the charges be dropped and that he adopt the soldier as his own son. Absurd? Doesn't that remind you of what God did for you and me? This story of Christian forgiveness shows how faith and love can overcome even the greatest suffering and tragedy, granting grace to those who have committed terrible acts and freeing them from the prison of hatred and revenge.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #21

May 19, 1 Chronicles 7-9; John 6:22-44

May 20, 1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71

May 21, 1 Chronicles 13-15; John 7:1-27

May 22, 1 Chronicles 16-18; John 7:28-53

May 23, 1 Chronicles 19-21; John 8:1-27

May 24, 1 Chronicles 22-24; John 8:28-59

May 25, 1 Chronicles 25-27; John 9:1-23