My kids are like little monkeys. They mimic what I do. They want to wear my big person shoes. They want to wear my baseball hat. They want to put on shaving cream and pretend, mimic or imitate our actions.
"Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5
They Are Imitators!
Here is the dictionary definition of an imitator - to mimic; impersonate; to make a copy of; to have or assume the appearance of or to resemble. If I were to take a snapshot of my life, would I want my own children imitate me? Yikes. This is a big deal. This sobering thought can shut me down for how inadequate I truly am. God has given me his spirit to empower me to somehow successfully imitate who he is to a watching world. Do you want to be imitated? As parents, the fact is, you already are being imitated.
Where You Lead...
I remember when I was a high school chemistry teacher years ago, I asked a group of students, a profound question: "If you woke up tomorrow and realized that the whole world was following you, where would you be leading them?" A young girl in the back of the room said under her breathe, "To The Mall." That was funny!
The whole world may not be following you, but I promise a household of kids certainly is following you. Are you walking in a manner worthy of the Lord? Are you walking in a manner worthy of being imitated? When our kids say, "Dad, I want to be just like you. It feels so good." I just want to live in a way that is worthy of imitation.
Worthy of Imitation
As I think about the attributes that I believe God wants me to imitate, mimic, impersonate or become a copy of, I think of the Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews opens with these words: "Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature." Jesus was meek. Jesus was loving. Jesus prayed. Jesus wept. Jesus befriended the lowly. And the list goes on. Bottom line, as parents, we need to be on our guard. Much more is caught than taught. Be imitators of God.
