5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 CSB)

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery.

We often seek to imitate those we look up to. We learn from what we see them doing and we begin to take on the elements that made them successful, or well respected or loved.

This scripture gives the basic building blocks of how we do this with God. We imitate what we learn in scripture and then we walk in the God’s way, which is the way of love.

I have become a great observer of life and people. When you watch long enough you see the true character of another. A simple glance at what they do will not suffice. It takes observation and understanding to see what another is truly about and whether they are worthy of imitation.

Affluence, success or celebrity are not good markers for imitation. In far too many cases these things corrupt, and what lies underneath the thin facade is riddled with rot.

We must observe deeply before we decide to imitate, so that we know the true nature of a person. Such is the way of scripture.