Imitators of the most high

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:1‭-‬2‭, ‬8 

When I was younger growing up in my neighborhood, both my little brother and I loved to play sports. Mainly football and basketball. We would literally spend all day during weekends & summers playing outside. We were even given the nickname, "playhead" by our older brothers because we both had big heads (still do lol) and just wanted to play all the time. I remember being really good at football because I was very fast and had great agility as we played barefoot in open fields of grass. I would often Imitate my favorite football players such as Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders.... I would juke everyone like Barry, high step like Emmit, and celebrate like Deion... And then there's basketball. This is the game I ended up really falling in love with. I was that kid that really thought he was MJ or Kobe out there. I would literally try to Imitate all their moves and even their walk and overall swag! It was funny. Later on in college, I even got that one gold hoop earring and number 23 just like Mike... The concept of Imitation is so powerful because we literally try to model our personality and even life after someone or something. The definition of "Imitation" is: the action of using someone or something as a model, emulation, copying, echoing, or following.

Example- "A child learns to speak by imitation".

-a thing intended to simulate or copy something else.

So, now that we've born-again (1 Peter 1:23), we've been cleansed from all sin (Titus 2:14), made holy (Hebrew 10:10), and filled with God's love through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5)! Our goal now is to die to the flesh daily so that the Spirit of God may have His way. Not our way but Yahweh. Not our will but God's will. Christ did God’s will as He physically suffered, was slain (mutilated), and ultimately sacrificed for our sins so that our souls may be saved! So now, we too must become a living Sacrifice that fully pleases our faithful Father….Our goal is to Imitate Jesus Christ not other people. We need to look to Jesus constantly, beholding His beauty and perfections so that we can be empowered. We must take time to pray daily, pleading with the Father for more revelation of the Christ and insight into His perfect will for our lives. We need to read the Word until He burns within us. He must burn away all the old so that the new can come and reign! We cannot be new within and walk in old ways! God forbid, beloved. We are to walk in the newness of the eternal Life we received in Him. We, as believers have received eternal Life and Love in Christ. Meaning it is a very present thing: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are One.”

John 10:27‭-‬30 

Jesus said, "My sheep listen to My voice, and they FOLLOW ME." They come after Me. They Imitate Me. My will is for them to even become like Me: "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him."

Colossians 3:10 

On that day the Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the Lord who goes before them!

Zechariah 12:8 

Jesus also said, "I and the Father" are One.... One in deity, nature, and purpose... Beloved much of the Christian life is understanding that we have been made ONE with Christ, forever.....You’re true identity, purpose, and home is all in Him. He is the Way and our Way. He is the Truth and our Truth. He is the Life and our Life (John 14:6; Colossians 3:1-4). We have entered into the "Everlasting Community of Love." Kind of scary and overwhelming but also beautiful and a blessing. God's hand is on your life. He loves you and will perfect everything that concerns your life..... Trust Him. Love Him. Worship Him. Glorify and Magnify His holy Name. For He has redeemed you from the enemy, purchasing you with the Blood of His One and only divine Son! God was basically saying, that you are precious in His sight, He loves you and HAD to have you! The passionate commitment of the Lord accomplished this....! I pray that reading this will make you want to go after God more and more. As you know Him, you will Imitate His ways and manifest Christ to the world which is God's ultimate Goal for His people!

"Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world."

"That they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me."

John 17