Let's Be Imitators

 The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "I say then: walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:16-18) This is the struggle that exists within every believer who does not dedicate their body for God’s service and renew their mind. (Romans 12:1-2) It is the struggle that goes on and on between the believers recreated spirit with their unregenerate soul, (mind, will, emotions) and body, until and unless they apply faith and rely on the Holy Spirits guiding.

Paul goes on and tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25) These nine wonderful attributes are instantly downloaded, if you will, into our recreated spirit the moment one is born again. Look closely at what Paul tells us, "and those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Walking in the spirit and living in the realm of the fruit of the spirit has absolutely nothing to do with self will or feelings, but recognizing our new identity in and with Christ. Of course this takes faith. 

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) Our heavenly Father's desire is not to simply dwell in us but to reproduce Himself in us. When you think about it, the very genius of Christianity is the ability of God to build Himself into us through His Word, so that in our daily walk we live like Jesus did when He walked this earth. "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) Although the process of building Christ into us may be slower than we desire, nevertheless, it makes Jesus men and women out of us. We must not only keep in mind, but also confess that, we are created in Christ Jesus. We are His Creation, and until Christ is formed in us, the world cannot see anything but religion in us.

The fact is, the Father is actually building His Love, His righteousness, His strength, His wisdom, His very self into our spirits. But are we letting Him do it. Are we convinced in our oneness with Him. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Are we convinced that, "...as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) As we study and meditate on the tremendous revelation given to Paul revealed in His Epistles, we become convinced that the ultimate quest of every one of those Epistles is the building of the life of Jesus in every believer. If you are not absolutely sure that the Father is at work in us, then takes some time and meditate on these facts. Know that the Father loves us more than we love ourselves. He is more ambitious for our success than we are and He is, “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) We are made fruitful when we come to the reality that His ability is at work in us.  Again, God's Word only becomes a reality when we receive it and act upon it through faith.

For many it has been somewhat difficult to comprehend that God is at work in us. Therefore we need to practice being God inside minded. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) We need to remind ourselves daily that we have God in us, and that He is there to build Christ into us, to build His Word in us, transforming us to be more like Him. If we simply accept His Word without prejudice, let it take root, be implanted, become a part of us, remembering that  Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God's Word is living and powerful, then we will not struggle with who we are in Christ, who Christ is in us and how the Father truly sees us and be imitators of God. As believers apply faith to these realities, they will never again talk doubt, fear, unbelief, sickness, lack or failure. Grace be with you...