Do you want to be a child of God? Do you want to be like Him? Are you willing to take on the tough task of changing your attitude and behavior? Are you willing to love everyone as He loves them, including your enemies?
If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are a child of God. But there is a difference between the offspring of someone and being an imitator of them. As offspring, we inherit. As an imitator, it becomes plain to everyone we meet who we belong to.
We understand this concept. There are people we know who are children of their parents, but they are so different that they could be the offspring of anyone. On the other hand, we know some who it is blatantly obvious who their parents are. It is almost as if they were a carbon copy. That is what Jesus is talking about in today’s passage.
To be a child of God, an imitator of His, we are to love our enemies not just our family, friends, or neighbor. Not an easy thing to do. To love someone who persecutes us goes against our human nature. To treat someone with love who mistreats us is extremely challenging.
But notice what Jesus says about God. He causes the sun to rise on the good and the evil. We may say, “Duh, how could the sun not rise on both?” But think deeper. Jesus is saying God causes good to happen to both and He tests both with dreary days. Why? God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
God desires us to be like Him. Jesus set the perfect example for us. We can read of His example to learn how to be like God, to be an imitator of God. As we seek to be like Him, He will give us the strength, wisdom, and discernment to continue. Then we will live the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).
I pray we all desire to be imitators of Jesus. I pray we seek to show love to everyone, including our enemies. I pray each one of us asks God to guide us and give us all we need to follow Him. Love your neighbor. Love your enemy. Love your family. Love your friends. Love everyone. Be an imitator of God.
Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Marty Pressey 