How to be Like God
The serpent in the garden told Eve that if she only knew how to judge between good and evil, she would be like God. Ever since then, we have lived our earthly lives judging everything and everyone. The problem is that we are not God, and we cannot see what's in anyone's heart. Consequently, we judge by outward appearance--the way things look to us.
So how can we be like God? Is it even possible? Ephesians 5:1-2 says it is. It says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1–2 (NASB 2020)
The first thing we find is that our imitation of Papa is like that of beloved children. I'm sure you can think of examples of a young girl or boy acting out the things a parent does, how they dress, what they say.
So, what does Papa do that we can emulate? The next thing we see, right at the beginning of verse 2 is, "walk in love."
Sounds easy and impossible all at the same time, doesn’t it?
The next part helps us see just how far afield from our true selves the flesh wants us to live. The text says we can best be like Papa by walking in love the same way Jesus loved us. Then it tells us the primary characteristic of the love Jesus demonstrated.
Are you ready?
He gave Himself up for us.
And there you have it. The impossible way that you can be like God.
It's a mystery how we can even begin to live this way.
The mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
The mystery of God's seed being in us. (1 John 3:9)
The mystery of us being, right now in this world, as He is (1 John 4:17).
Father is in us,
by His Spirit who is joined to us,
so, we manifest the self-giving life of Jesus.
Paul sums this up for us in Ephesians 5 verses 8 and 9. He says, "You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." And "The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth."
There you have it, you beacon in the world, you imitator of your Papa.
There you have the restful way of godliness.
Fruit that you get to bear, but don't have to produce.
Easy yokes and light burdens. That's how grace works.
