“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
(Ephesians 5:1 ESV)
A good father is a treasure to his children. He protects, comforts and provides for them. Most of all, a good father loves his children. And in response good children adore their father and want to be like him.
God our heavenly Father is infinitely greater than the best father on earth. In fact, so much so that, in comparison, Jesus says in Matthew 7:11: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
The immeasurable goodness of God to His children should not only draw us toward Him in worship and adoration, it should also move us to be more like Him. If an earthly father is pleased when his children want to imitate him, how much more does it please our heavenly Father when the desire of our heart is to be like Him, to follow Him, and to model our life after His instructions!
Like a good father, God does not leave our following Him to chance. He has given us everything we need “pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him…” (2 Peter 1:3). We grow in the knowledge of God when we study His Word. Louis Berkhof said, “This Law demonstrates what rational creatures made in His image must do in order to be like Him.”
In addition, we have the example of Christ. Christ came into the world to show us the Father and to fulfill the will of God and His plan of redemption. “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you,” (John 13:15). As believers, we “ought also to walk, even as He walked,” (1 John 2:6).
Children who are blessed with a good earthly father naturally tend to want to imitate him. Likewise, our charge as children of God is that we seek to know Him better, to adore Him more consistently, and to anticipate becoming more like Him every day.
- Lord, You call me a dear child and beloved one. (Eph. 5:1). What a wonderful word “dear” signifies. Jesus is known as the “Beloved One,” (Matt. 3:17, 17:5, and 18:12) since He is Your only begotten Son (John 3:16). How blessed I am that You also call me Your beloved, Your dear child!
- Help me, Lord, to walk in holiness and purity, as You are holy and pure. You adopted me into Your family, and as Your child I should imitate You, my Father. I can never be holy like You. But as one of Your dear children, I should demonstrate Your likeness. Help me imitate Your holiness, Your goodness, Your righteousness all my days.
- Lord, a solid assurance of Your love in my life makes my walk with You sweeter and lighter. Knowing that You are mine, that Christ is mine, Your promises are mine, things present and to come are mine, urges me to concern myself with living for Your glory. Knowing that I am Your dear child makes me want to follow hard after You. Such an assurance assists me in every duty You charge me with (Heb. 6:10). This makes me love my labor for You in Christ even more, knowing that my “labor shall not be in vain in the Lord,” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Further References for Eph. 5:1
Matt. 5:48; Luke 6:36; John 1:12; Eph. 4:32; Lev. 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16
