July 11
Mirroring God
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;”
My youngest daughter Kristen, about four or five years old at the time, had been playing school with her dolls most of the morning pretending to be the teacher. She had lined them all up on her bed like eager little students and was really giving them “what for” concerning their behavior in class that day. She was pointing her finger sporting her hand on her hip for added affect as she dosed out a stern warning that she was leaving the room and while she was gone there had better be no talking. As she turned to walk away she quickly whipped back around and said, “What did you say?” Unbeknown to her, I had a bird’s eye view of this scene from the hallway outside her bedroom. Besides a colorful imagination, it was a dazzling display of teaching skills laced with an authoritative discipline that would keep anyone in line!
As I giggled to myself over what I saw, it wasn’t long before I realized that my little Krily Bug, as we affectionately called her, was imitating someone and that someone was me! Although it’s been said that the highest form of flattery is imitation, I wasn’t flattered at the time. I was ashamed at the sight of seeing myself through the eyes of my child. It wasn’t a pretty picture to look at. It was a powerful moment in the mommy world for me as the weight of knowing her little eyes were watching me much closer than I had ever realized fell heavy upon my heart. They were not only watching me but, they were watching me with the intent of mimicking. The object of our focus, of our affections, will often become a mold that we gladly pour ourselves in to.
What an awesome responsibility we have as God’s creation in whatever task we are assigned to. We will imitate what we see because this is the way God has designed us. He fashioned us not from stone, but upon the wheel of the potter, made out of earthen clay, and clay is pliable. It can be molded and remolded over and over again. You and I were designed to be shaped and molded, and this is why we will seek out a pattern to follow and to become like, be it good or bad.
God’s intended pattern is given to us here in this verse found in Ephesians; “be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Children imitate much easier than adults, don’t they? It’s that childlike innocence that without judgment, without question or reservation, will set itself out to be like the one they admire and love. As God’s children we are to imitate our Heavenly Father. In speaking of the Father Jesus said, (John 5:19) “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” Everything Jesus said and did was patterned after what He saw the Father doing. He did this in order to reveal the Father to a lost and dying world.
What or who are you patterning your life after? Could others look at your life and know the Father? Are you watching the Father? Are your eyes ever upon your Creator, studying and meditating upon every word and deed so you can become like Him in all things? Fix your eyes upon Him and you soon will be imitating Holiness.
Make me a mirror of your image and reflect your beauty through my life.
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
