Daily Devotional
How Do We Imitate God
“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.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
May 17, 2024
Ponder This
Have you ever thought about how God sustains your life? For you to live this day means God has sustained your life. For you to fail to live this day, God does not have to take your life, all He has to do is stop giving it. Every day is a gift from God. His mercies are new every morning. It is because of the Lord’s mercy that we’re not consumed.
Ephesians 2:4 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…” Do you know how God counts His riches? Not in silver or gold, but in His mercy. When you’re merciful, you’re being Christlike. To be unmerciful is to be unlike Him. Today’s passage reminds us we are to be imitators of God. This does not mean imitation in the false sense: it means to really be like Him. Do we strive to live like Him in our mercy? In this way, we live as testimonies of who God is. We show people the mercy we have been given by the mercy we extend. If God, in love, has been merciful to us, how much more should we be merciful to one another?
- Who are some people in your life who imitate God? What are they like?
- What are some opportunities you have to be merciful this week?
Practice This
Consider what it would look like to imitate God throughout your day. What would be different about your day? What would be the same? Take steps toward this imitation today.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
