Ephesians 5:1-2 in the New King James Version says “Therefore be Imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Other versions of the Bible use the word “live” in place of walk. I often refer to the old King James because I can look up the root meaning of words, using Strong’s Concordance. In this verse the word “walk” means to make one’s way, progress, to make use of opportunities, to live, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self.
Little children are great imitators of those around them. They pick up mannerisms, repeat words that they hear, and often copy adults around them in the way they walk. God tells us that we are to be like little children when it comes to walking out our Christian life. We are to copy Jesus.
How can we copy Jesus when we’ve never seen him? He has revealed himself in his Word. If there is a question on how we are to act or react in various situations, we can go to the Word and ask the Lord what he would do in a given situation. Psalm 105:102 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Traveling in Biblical times was not an easy thing to do. Many times the way to get from one place to another was simply a path. If they were traveling a path or a rough road in the dark, they needed to have a lamp with them in order to travel safely.
We are traveling through this life, and often we hit rough spots and rugged paths. The only way to travel safely and reach our final destination is to have a lamp that we carry with us: God’s Word!! The only way we can become imitators of God is to know what His Word says.
We also should walk in such a way that we can be an example to others. I Timothy 4:12 says “Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” I wouldn’t want anyone to use the way I walk physically as an example. I’ve had both hips replaced and the lining in the prostheses wore out and I had those replaced with the hope that I would be able to walk normally again. So far that hasn’t happened and I walk with the assistance of a walker. But that doesn’t stop me from being an example of what it means to walk in love as the Scriptures indicate I should.
The old question, “What would Jesus do?” is still applicable today, especially in today’s environment. Be an example of a believer and let people see Jesus shining through you.
Naomi Brinkman
