Is there anything cuter than a toddler struggling with a plastic
toy lawnmower behind his daddy pushing the big one? How many imaginary plates of spaghetti,
cookies and cakes have you eaten? I’ll consume cups and cups of pretend
tea if my granddaughter’s serving it.
And advertising scores with those pictures of little boys standing on the
bathroom counter peering into the mirror as they watch Daddy shave.
Everyone who has children is aware of
just how closely they watch us. Almost
every parent becomes a little more patient, aware of his language, and
conscious that small eyes observe every move.
This is what our Father desires from
us. He wants us to mimic Him. We study His Word for glimpses into Jesus’
personality and teaching. We need the
longing to be like Jesus.
So does that mean that we go out into
the world carrying a Bible and trying to copy Him? In a sense that’s exactly what it means; but God
wants to make it a much simpler process for us.
Think of the kids. They
watch. They listen. They take in the very essence of their
parents. If you don’t believe that, then
you’re not old enough to have had some instruction from your mom come flying
out of your mouth. In many ways we do
turn into our parents, partly from genetics but also from many years of
observation.
God sent us a powerful ally in our
quest to become more like Jesus. His
Holy Spirit is there to read Scripture along with us, to whisper a special
application just for us. He goes with us
into the world to remind us that we are part of God’s family and to show us how
to act like it. He brings verses to mind
as we need them.
I love my family here on earth. But being a part of God’s family? There’s nothing like it. My life is richer, my love is more tender,
and I’m going to be at the biggest family reunion in history when I join Him.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
