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Imitate Christ’s Character – It’s a choIce!

“Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2). The Christ-follower is called to mirror their Lord and Savior, just as young children naturally copy the actions and behavior of their parents. And the primary expression of imitating God is living a life of sacrificial love, mirroring how Jesus gave Himself for others.

Anytime you see a conjunctive adverb like “therefore” in Scripture, you need to immediately go to the previous section because something major was just said. In this case, a look at Ephesians 4 is a must. Paul reminds us that we have taken off the “old self” in chapter 4, verse 22, and in verse 24 he instructs us, “and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Off with the “old” and on with the “new”!

These verses tell us we can imitate God because the old is gone and the new has come! If we are going to “imitate” God, we cannot just talk about it. Our lives should have the kind of actions that back it up! How many people do you know that talk a good talk, but their lives tell a different story? That’s the point of this word “imitate.” The kind of life we live should tell the story…not our words! How do you ask? Through His goodness and mercy, HE has enabled us to imitate Him through His Spirit that lives in us (Ephesians 3:16). While it may seem impossible to imitate a holy God, the correct view of Scripture teaches that it’s possible because He has removed the “old self” and put on the “new self…created in the likeness of God.” Although it may feel intimidating, imitating the character of Christ is exactly what God desires for you. God has made you holy through His Son, and through the ongoing work of His Spirit, continues to remake you in His likeness. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

I encourage you to study and apply the Scriptures mentioned in this article and look for opportunities to glorify God in your daily life. Look for areas where you can imitate Christ. It may be through showing kindness to someone. It may be forgiving a person you need to forgive. It could be in extending mercy to someone who doesn’t deserve it. Because God first loved, you can show love!

Choose to imitate Christ, and you’ll find that it’s possible to live life with little to no regret! 

Father, thank You for loving me and giving me the ability, through Your Spirit that is at work in me, to imitate You! I ask that You give me the courage to imitate You in such a way that people would see You working in my life and it would attract them to You! Amen

  An MCHA Stop~n~Think - 09.25.2026 - Courtesy of  MCHA Ministry Coordinator Tim Chastain