Don't ape men, imitate God...!

Let’s read Ephesians 5:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 4:15, 16 (NLT)

“IMITATE GOD, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God”

“For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So I urge you to IMITATE ME”

It was the Apostle Paul who wrote the above two sentences in his letters. Why would he say “imitate God” and also “imitate me”? Is he self contradicting? Did he change his view overtime?

He is neither self contradictory nor did he change his view. He meant what he said on both occasions. We need to understand both the literary context and also the self-application in both these seemingly controversial views.

IMITATE GOD – If you read the passage previous to chapter 5:1, you will realise that Paul is urging the Ephesian Christians to live as children of Light and not as children of darkness. Specifically speaking he is urging them to get rid of the acts of darkness like - bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour and instead embrace the acts of light - being kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

IMITATE ME – It is interesting to see how Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to imitate him after telling them “I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike” (v 9). When Paul said “IMITATE ME”, he meant “IMITATE THE CHRIST IN ME” for we can associate Paul’s being a spectacle of ridicule and shame to the entire world with Jesus Christ’s public ridicule and death on the cross. In verses 3, 4 of the same chapter he said “As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.  My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide”. Paul is clearly not establishing himself as a “great” individual, on the contrary he is saying that just as he considers everything (of great earthly value) apart from Christ as garbage (Philippians 3:8); just as he chose to imitate Christ in His selflessness and sacrifice, he is urging us to do the same. He is urging us to “imitate him” in his imitation of Christ.

We are social beings and people who bring us up (parents & elders) have much influence in the way we talk, behave, think and prioritise. We are naturally inclined to ape the things our parents and elders do which satisfy “selfish” desires and urges. For example anger, gossip, greed, religious urgency, disrespect, foul mouth etc. By nature we are more willing to ape the bad than to imitate the good.

It is ok to look-up to men but not to blindly ape their mannerisms, style of speech or behaviour. You and I are made unique and are made to be unique. Instead we should imitate the Christ-likeness in them. It is however impossible to find someone who has fully emptied his/herself and is completely filled with Christ. But, there are a select few even in this generation who are seeking to be transformed into the likeness of Christ day-by-day, just as the Apostle Paul did. Imitating such people is not blindly aping their flesh (behaviour, mannerism, accent etc.) but imitating their spirit (a willingness to practically follow Christ even through adversity and disapproval by other people).

Are you aping men or imitating God…??

Not merely FYI

Let’s read Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:105; James 1:22; Acts 17:11 & Psalm 1: 1-3 in tandem

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Now the Berean Jews…………received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Blessed is the one……… who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

A book is nothing but a collection of thoughts, germinated from the author’s mind. Some books carry thoughts which are based on factual events while some carry fictional imaginations. Some are historical, some are metaphorical, while some are simply entertaining.

The Bible is also a book. While all other books originated from the mind of man, the Bible originated from the mind of God. The Bible is not merely a collection of historical events and facts but it reveals the very heart of God and that is why it is also referred to as the “Word-of-God”.  “…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45) - The Bible is the only route to God’s heart….!

Imagine a father telling something to his son or daughter. It can be anything. No matter what he says, one would imagine that it all carries a meaning and purpose. They can be words of instruction, words of encouragement or words of correction, etc. Can you imagine a sane father giving irrelevant, aimless, purposeless information to his children? Impossible…! Then how can God our Heavenly Father aimlessly speak to us ONLY to make us better-informed individuals. He speaks to you “for your transformation” and not just “for your information”.

God spoke and continues to speak to TRANSFORM us – to make us wise, to give us better Spiritual visibility and to make us prosperous in whatever we do according to His will. How often do you hear God speak (read the Bible or listen to a Spirit-driven preacher) in a week? Once? Twice? Thrice? Well, the Word of God says that we are BLESSED if we meditate on God’s speech day & night (all the time)…!

Don’t be satisfied with Biblical INFORMATION, seek for Spiritual TRANSFORMATION…!

MORE SLUMBER = MORE POVERTY…!

Let’s read Ephesians 5:8-14, Proverbs 6:9-11 & Matthew 6:19-21 in tandem

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber,  a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Darkness” is simply the absence of “Light” but “Light” is not as simple as mere “absence of darkness”. There is no such thing as a “source of darkness” because darkness need not be produced. On the contrary, “Light” needs to be produced by a source and that source needs to be a constant spender of energy (for example think of a burning candle - clear illustration of a living sacrifice).

The reason for life to sustain on this earth is this – the Sun shines every day, equally and un-biased to bring light to our planet. And with light comes life. Without Sun the Earth would eventually die to become another lifeless planet suspended in dark space. With the coming of this life-dependent light, there are those who rise-up, be awake and begin their day of toil for a living. Yet, there are many who do not like the rising up of the sun every morning. They wish they have more time to sleep tight and snooze in darkness. This is what we call “laziness”. Man did nothing great to end up in Sin and darkness. But God had to sacrifice His only begotten Son, to unleash the Light of Life that drives out all Sin and darkness. Just as the Sun is impartially given for all, the Son (Christ) was also given for all “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life….” (John 3:16b - KJV).

Physical awakening (the body waking up from sleep) is mainly for the purpose of earning treasures on earth, to live and to eventually die, to try and have all bills & wills sorted. Spiritual awakening is similar to physical awakening but only within the limits of an illustration. Spiritual awakening is for the purpose of storing up treasures in heaven, which is to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might….(Colossians 1:10-11a)

BE AWAKE - let CHRIST shine on you…!

Outstanding in the house of God or out standing from the house of God…?

Let’s read Luke 15:25-32 (NIV) & Psalm 27:4 (NIV) in tandem

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple”

When the younger son came to his senses and decided to return to the father, he did not expect the father to accept him back as his beloved son. He wanted to work for his father and remain as a servant. But, because the father loved his son unconditionally, he accepted him back as a “son” and not just as a “servant”. The father did not hesitate to give his son the “best”, even after his terrible past of arrogance and extravagant spending.  The father called for a huge celebration and wanted his repentant-son to look and be “outstanding” from all the rest within the household, because this son who was once dead is now alive, who was once lost is now found. The younger son humbly melted into his father’s priceless embrace and accepted the free gift of re-birth and the spirit of sonship.

On the other hand – the elder brother never understood his father’s love, though he was with him all this while. The father had his “best” instore for both his sons. But, the elder brother was not humble enough to align with his father’s line of thinking. So he (the elder brother) became angry and refused to go in….! What an irony that the elder brother was even ready to forego the fellowship with his father so easily succumbing to pride and selfishness.

Who do you identify yourself with today?

Are you like the younger son who had lost all hope? – come to your senses, choose the way of humility and true-repentance and be sure to be accepted by your loving Heavenly Father through Christ. Seek to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life…!

Are you like the elder son who failed to be in unison with his father’s mind & heart? – humble yourself and cry out for wisdom & understanding (Proverbs 2:3-5) and in your relationship with your fellow brother/sister have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5-11).

A YEARNING for LEARNING…!

Let’s read Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

How many of us really like to learn?

Learning involves humility and commitment. Humility to accept the fact that the teacher is placed higher than us in terms of knowledge. Commitment to spend our time and reasoning in understanding that which is being taught or imparted.

Jesus, the Son of God was an obedient student first and then a teacher. Firstly, a student of His heavenly Father, then of the teachers and His elders.

Child Jesus had the option of spending some playful time with His friends and relatives but He chose to spend time at the temple courts listening and asking questions. He amazed the teachers with His understanding and His answers.

It was a delight for Jesus to be in His Father’s house. The Psalmist expressed this yearning of a child of God without any exaggeration “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10a). There is joy in the Father’s house. There is peace in the Father’s house. There is learning and wisdom in the Father’s house…!

Jesus did not let His wisdom and understanding puff Him up with pride. He joyfully chose to be humble and obedient. He cheerfully chose not to settle down with what He already had but to grow in wisdom.

He grew in favour with God & man because of His humility and His readiness to listen, learn & obey.

Are you passionate about spending time in your Heavenly Father’s house just as Jesus was? Do you yearn to learn from the power-house of wisdom (the Word of God / Bible)?

“I WISH YOU WERE HERE…NOT OUT THERE…!”

Let’s read Genesis 2:7, 8; Genesis 3: 22-24; Luke 15: 17-24 & Romans 8:14-17 in tandem

“...the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed”

……man sinned (Genesis 3)

“...the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.  After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life”

“When he (younger son) came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”

God’s original plan for man was to keep him in the custom-made garden which He himself had planted. A garden full of good, pleasant and satisfying things. And most of all, a garden where God himself was ever-present to have fellowship with man.  The same God had to eventually banish man out of the garden as a direct result of his disobedience & Sin.

The way to the tree of life was blocked by a flaming sword flashing back and forth. Man’s “knowledge of good and evil” is nothing but knowing what is right and what is wrong through self understanding / self-righteousness. Man cannot reach to the tree of life (eternal life through God’s sonship) unless and until he chooses to die to his self-will, self-understanding and self-righteousness by letting the flaming sword (Word of God and the Spirit of God) pierce through him/her.

Our heavenly father awaits our homecoming, just as an earthly father would wait for his son/daughter to return. He wishes you to be with him at home (fellowship the Him) and not away from Him (fellowship with the world).

Man’s knowledge of good and evil does not allow him to logically understand the concept of dying to self-will and living to God’s will. But, those who are led by the Spirit (and not just by the intellect) are the children of God…!

Jesus Christ is the only Way, through which you and I can reach the tree of life. Jesus Christ is the only Truth, by which you and I are set free from all bondages (including the bondage of the “knowledge of good and evil”). Jesus Christ is the only Life, which is real and eternal. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

What is your current Spiritual address? At home with your Heavenly Father - living in righteousness, peace and Joy or Out there serving the deceiver (Satan) – dying in sin, shame and hopelessness….??

We work blunders while He works wonders…!

Let’s read Exodus 3:11, 12 & 16, 17(NIV); Matthew 11:28-30(MSG); Philippians 1:21(NIV) & Romans 6:23 (NIV)

“…Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”……“Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

“….to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”

“….the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Did you ever wonder what our primary calling is as Christians? Simply to REST. Yes, sounds controversial, but true. Some ideas if left unexplained or even explained in part result in being blasphemous, hence let me explain. The original Hebrew word for “rest” used above (Matthew 11:28-30) is “NUACH”, which means “to guide or lead another into a place or state of rest”. This does not mean a place or state of being lazy or sluggish and “do nothing” but a place or state of total reliance on His all-sufficient grace.

Moses thought for a moment that God was asking him to do the mammoth task of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt all by his own human strength and might. But God clarified Moses’ misunderstanding instantly by saying “I will be with you (Moses)….. I have watched over you (Israel) and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 

And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt”. Moses eventually testified of God’s faithfulness thus – “…The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:30 & 31). God asked Moses to partner with Him but as it is the case ALWAYS – God did it all by Himself but used Moses to exercise His grace, to perform unbelievable miracles and to glorify His name.

The opposite of “rest” is to “work”. And the opposite of “gift” or “inheritance” is “wages”. One does close-to-nothing when it comes to accepting a gift or inheritance. But one needs to work in order to receive wages.

If you feel like you are working unbearably hard (burdened with a heavy yoke) in your walk with God then you are most likely all by yourself trying to bear the yoke all alone on the wrong way, the way of Sin(not following His commands correctly) which leads to death.

Which is easy? To accept His “gifts”, “inheritance” and “total-support” freely and “rest”? Or to work on our own for a pay-cheque of death??

Let us take the example of Moses or even better the example of Jesus in letting God our Heavenly Father take full control of our lives and “rest” in His blessed assurance and unfailing hope for Him to live in and through us for His eternal glory…!