26 Top Bible Verses-Imitate God …

Is it OK to imitate God?

Does it make God happy when we imitate Him…

Or is He offended?

GO straight to the list of 26 Top Bible Verses-Imitate God …

Or continue for the everyday story that made me think of them…

and more on the verses…

The Everyday Story…

“How can I help you?” the clerk asks..

I’m in the home improvement store..

One of those stores with aisle after aisle of everything you could ever want to work around the house…

one of these stores in which I get lost every time…

“I’m looking for nails…”

“Right over over there in aisle 15…”

“I’ll show you…”

He turns to go…

But stops and looks back at me…

“Has anybody ever told you,” he asks, “that you look like Bill Gates?”

Neither I (nor my bank account!) resemble Bill Gates…

But this is the year of Covid…

So all he can see of my face are my glasses…

And my face mask.

I laugh…

He laughs…

No one has ever said said I look like Bill Gates…

And I don’t expect to ever hear it again.

Another day…

In the parking lot of the same home improvement store…

A woman approaches timidly…

Her husband stands back a few feet…

Grinning and waving self-consciously.

The woman stops a few feet away…

And stares intently at my facemask-clad face..

“Uh… Uh…”, she stammers…

“You’re not…”

“I mean has anybody ever told you…”

“You look like Bill Gates?”

This time I’m ready with an answer…

“Actually, I was going to give a million dollars to the first person who recognized me today…

But I left my wallet at home!”

We all laugh…

The illusion vanishes!

Despite my mask…

My unintentional imitation of a famous person is exposed!

The word “imitation” sticks in my mind

And I wonder…

Who should we imitate?

Is it OK to imitate God?

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1

…Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:6

So we should imitate God…

But how?

The verses above hint at it…

We imitate God with love…

With love for God….

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

And with love for others…

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:39-40

Any imitation without love…

Will not be a true imitation…

But only a caricature…

A caricature of the God whose love overflows to all his creation…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Read on for all 26 Top Bible Verses-Imitate God …

 Ephesians 5:1-2 

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1 Peter 2:21 

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 John 2:6 

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Matthew 5:16 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

John 13:34 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Ephesians 5:2 

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 4:32 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Hebrews 6:12 

So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

John 13:15 

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Luke 6:40 

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Hebrews 13:7 

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Philippians 2:1-30 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, …

John 3:16 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 13:14 

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Luke 9:23 

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Matthew 5:48 

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Peter 2:21-22 

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Luke 6:36 

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

1 John 2:5 

But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1 John 4:19 

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 3:16 

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Matthew 10:38 

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

3 John 1:11 

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Romans 12:9 

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

26 Top Bible Verses-Imitate God …

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