Imitators.

All of us- yes, regardless of what or to degree of talent we have, it's all a gift. Further, all good gifts are from God and should be used to His glory and other's benefit -not merely our own.

There is an important humility factor in that foundationally, nobody is a total "original". Oh, I don't mean no human ever invented anything nor that all only copy things and never imagine or come up with new ideas and applications, surely at least hybrids of art, architecture and etc.. I mean at best we reflect our heavenly Father and are not ourselves God.

When Paul writes "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children" (Eph. 5.1) and in another letter to Christ-followers "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."(1 Cor. 11.1) he is clearly not saying "We as children of God ARE God" nor "Check ME out, I'm da DUDE!" but rather that we who claim to follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior must grow in a mindset and habits that are those of God Himself, best as we imperfect, frail, fickle humans are able.

The Holy Spirit working in the life of each believer empowers us to this very end- that we become more and more like Jesus.

I offer one definition of sin in sinners we must beware of: when we do not imitate the Lord we pretend we -are- originals and the Originator when in fact no human being apart from Jesus Christ Himself (fully God, fully human) was and is. John tells us in his Gospel (1.2,3)"All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that has been made."

We apart from Him are rich in "wood, hay and stubble" but "gold, silver and precious stones" are His work through us.

Each of us are unique and bring our individual personalities and creative works to the world but let us not fall into the king of all idolatries: the worship and self-glorification of self as though we are the source of all greatness and good.

God alone is that Source. Glory to God!!

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn