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Imitators of Christ

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1

As I read this verse it made me ask myself "How are we practically supposed to be imitators of God?".
God always desires for us to know more of who He is and to be more like Him. There are several verses in the bible that express this desire of God's heart. In knowing these few things, I concluded that we need to imitate the attributes of God that scripture specifically calls us to follow in.
There are twelve attributes that I came up with.

The first attribute was Holiness.
"...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16

"...You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Leviticus 19:2b


Having Mercy or being Merciful. 
" Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:36


Being Compassionate or having a Compassionate heart.
" Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..." Colossians 3:12


Having imperishable Beauty of the heart.
" But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4

" How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:15b


God is Truth itself and He desires us to be Truthful and to delight in it.
" Behold, You (God) delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart." Psalm 51:6

God wants us to shine forth His Light.
" In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16


God delights in a Humble spirit.
"...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5b


To have Love for one another
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8

"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Purity in heart
" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8


Righteousness
" For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21


Serving God with Faithfulness
" Now therefore fear The Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14


Having Wisdom from God
" But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." James 3:17

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