Be Imitators of God!

Ephesians 5:1 17 Another way of saying this might be, make God your role model. Most people look to someone else to be a role model to pattern their lives after. Someone that they respect and look up to (not always for the good). Children especially will pattern their lives after someone that they look up to. Sometimes the people in their lives are not very good role models. Paul is encouraging us to use God as a role model and imitate Him. We are to imitate Him as dearly loved children. Just as a son who is loved and respected by his father wants to be like him; as we walk with our Heavenly Father who loves us far more than any earthly father ever could, let us strive to be like Him. We are encouraged to live a life of love patterned after Jesus example. He calls us to live holy lives that are without even a hint of sexual immorality. Our speech needs to be characterized by thanksgiving rather than the coarse street talk we may have been used to. We are admonished to find out what pleases the Lord, because we are children of light and not darkness. The deeds of light consist of goodness righteousness and truth. We are to make the most of every opportunity for the sake of the kingdom, because the days are evil, and the time is short.