Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Truth to Learn
We need to live the part that God has given us.
Behind the Words
“Therefore” is translated from oun, which indicates a connection of two thoughts, sometimes indicating an affect from the previous thought, but often just a link between the two. I believe the best translation in this case is “Then.”
“Be” is the command form of ginomai, which we saw in yesterday’s verse. It means “become.”
The word translated “imitators” is mimētēs, from which we get our English word “mimic,” meaning “to imitate or copy in action and speech.”
“Dear” is translated from agapētos, which is based on the verb agapaō, meaning “to love with a perfect, self-sacrificing love.” Agapētos refers to someone who is loved with that kind of love.
A more literal translation of this verse would be, “Then become imitators of God as beloved children.”
Meaning Explained
Nearly everyone has someone whom they look-up to with respect and admiration, in many cases wishing they could be just like them. Some people go so far as to imitate the clothing style of the one they admire, combing their hair the same way, and even talking like their idol. In fact, there are those who go to the extreme, having plastic surgery so that they even physically resemble the one whom they revere so much. Sort of crazy, huh? Perhaps in the extreme case; however, the Apostle Paul tells us that being imitators is a good thing, as long as the one we’re imitating is God.
In chapter four of this letter to the Christians in the church of Ephesus, Paul instructed them (and us) to take off the old man and put on the new man. In effect, he told us to quit behaving like our sin nature and begin behaving like our new nature. He even went so far as to instruct us in some of the characteristics of the old man (things we are to avoid) and some of the characteristics of the new man. Now, he gives us some practical insight into how we can put on the new man.
We’ve all seen actors who, even though we know their real identity, portray a character so completely that we perceive the character they’re playing rather than the actor. And, when we think of that actor, we often think of him or her as one of the characters they have portrayed. In reality, however, we all know that they are just acting like someone else; they’re not really the character they imitate.
Unlike professional actors, we need to become more than just pretenders. God doesn’t want us to pretend that we’re His children. We are His children! And He wants us to live like His children are supposed to live. While professional actors portray the character on the outside, we need to become the character on the inside.
Application
“I don’t want to be a phony, acting like someone I’m not,” you may say. Well, you don’t have to. If you are a born-again Christian, then you are a child of God. By learning how to think and behave like a child of God you become the new character that God has made you to be. If you learn the part well enough, others will see God in you. Think about that!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.