Copycats

We are all copycats.

We might think that we are original. Unique. Different.

But in reality, everything that we do, say or think has been taken from someone else.

Granted, you probably have brought together a mixture of imitation that no one else has. But it's just the mixture that is unique.

Think of an newborn.

How does he learn to talk? By copying what he hears.

Take a baby born in the US to English-speaking parents. Put him in a Spanish-speaking family in Argentina. He'll speak Argentinian Spanish, not US English. In fact, he'll probably struggle in English classes in school, like all the others in his class.

He listened to what was around him and learned to shape his mouth and tongue to produce the unique sounds that he was hearing.

Every thought that we have had, has originated in a thought that someone else had. We read a book. We ask a question. We watch TV. We listen to music.

All of that shapes our thoughts.

We are not copying everything that we see or hear. We pick and choose what we want to copy.

Therefore, it is highly important that we choose carefully whom we imitate.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Be imitators of God as beloved children" (Eph 5:1).

What better standard for the Christian than to be an imitator of God?

Obviously, none of us can part the Red Sea or create the universe, but there are attributes of God which we can copy.

For starters: Holiness. Righteousness. Justice. Mercy. Love. Truth. Patience.

Being an imitator of God gives us a filter for all the other copying that we are doing.

When we listen to a conversation about parenting, we can ask ourselves, "Are these godly methods?"

When we decide what clothes to wear by looking at what everyone else is wearing, we can ask ourselves, "Will these clothes bring honor to God, or to myself?"

When we hear about others cheating on their spouses, we can filter that through the question, "Does God cheat on His bride, the church?"

When we're caught up in a discussion that turns to an argument, we can pause and ask, "Is this how God would respond to this person?"

Being an imitator of God guides us in the multitude of decisions we make each day.

It gives us the opportunity to choose what we do, say or think, not on the grid of what everyone else is doing, but on God's standards.

Take care of it!

Have you ever gotten really mad at someone? I mean really, really, really mad? You're so angry with someone that you can't think of anything good that they have ever done. You're so angry that you never again want to see them, to speak to them, or even hear about them. You want God to zap them with lightning.

What was it that they did that made you so angry?

Most likely they did something to offend you. Lies. Maybe even physically abused you. Emotional abuse. Theft. Life in this world of sinners is full of sin and you've no doubt been the recipient of some of it.

Usually we think that we have a right to be angry with people who hurt us. They have done some injustice and they don't deserve any kindness from me.

Look at David's prayer about those people:


"Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil,
Who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.
Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds,
Give to them according to the work of their hands, render them their due reward.
Because they do not regard the works of the LORD or the work of His hands,
He will tear them down and build them up no more." (Ps 28:3-5)

Don't drag me off with them. Don't let me become like them. Don't let me be a part of their company and learn from them.

Give them what they deserve. Judge them accordingly. Punish them. God, You take it into Your hands. I'm not going to seek revenge.

Because they have disregarded You. Not because they have offended me. Not because they have hurt me.

Lord, You deal with those who have hurt me in the way that You seem fit. You know their hearts. You know what they have done. Their attack has been against You, not me. Don't let me become bitter and evil. Don't let me pick up their weapons and use them. I turn it over to You.