Children naturally imitate their parents; it’s what they do. Whether it’s pushing a toy mower behind daddy while he mows the grass, or baking mud “pies” in the backyard because they see mama hard at work on something delicious in the kitchen, children inevitably pattern their behaviors to a large degree based on what they observe in their father and mother. Personally, it feels a little intimidating knowing that soon, there will be little eyes watching me. I know that when my children or others look at me, they will not see a perfect example. And that is exactly why it is so important that we all look to the One who is the perfect example—our Lord Jesus Christ. Your spouse, your children, your parents, your roommate, your classmates—they may not see a perfect example in you when they look at your life, but they can see an example of someone who is following the perfect example.

Paul told the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” When other churches heard about the faithfulness of the Christians in Thessalonica, it wasn’t a perfect example they saw, but it was an example of Christians who were following the One who is Perfect. The point is this: we are called to be imitators of Christ. But if you put all your value and expectations in being a perfect imitator of Christ with the understanding (either voiced or unvoiced) that you have to do this in order to impress, appease, or satisfy God, you are getting off on the wrong foot. God does not call us to be imitators of Christ in order to attain an acceptable status in his eyes. He calls us to be imitators of Christ because as those who have put our faith in Jesus Christ and in his righteousness (not ours), it is right and fitting that we draw near to our Lord and let him change us from the inside out so that our lives bring glory to God.

So are you an imitator of God? If you want to imitate a master painter, you have to spend hours watching him work and trying your hand at reproducing the lighting and blending of the colors that he makes look so natural. If you want to imitate a master violinist, you have to spend hours practicing the instrument, accepting corrections and constantly pushing on through endless mistakes. If you want to imitate the heavenly Master, you have to spend hours with him in the pages of Scripture, listening to him teach, witnessing his mercy and compassion, and holding your breath while he performs seemingly impossible miracles. Let’s follow in Jesus’ footsteps by doing God’s will, because as children of God, we imitate our Father; it’s what we do.