Imitators of God

How about this verse:  therefore be imitators of God as beloved children (Eph. 5.1).

You ever watched a parent feed a baby some baby food?  Outside of the airplane noises, the cutesy-wutesy talk, or any other strategy, one always caught my attention.

When dad, for instance, would open his mouth in an attempt to show the child what to do.

It's funny when you see it.  It has the pungency of significance when you think about it.

That's what God, our Father, wants us to be like.  Look what He's doing, then do the same.  We are called to be imitators, what we see Him doing we do too.  What we hear Him saying, that's what we say.

This imitation isn't based on our performance.  It's based on our identity.  We are His beloved children. So we get to grow up to be like dear ol' dad.

And what is it that is primary for us as His imitators?  To walk in love, but not amorphous, postmodern, societal love.  Jesus' kind of love.  Real, tough, tender, caring and compassionate love.

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and delivered Himself up for us (Eph. 5.2).

That's the model and the call of following Jesus.

But that's just me thinking thoughts...