Ephesians 5:1 “Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as all Truth is in Jesus…”. Before Paul tells us to imitate God, to follow His example, he makes an assumption that we know Him. That we know Who God is, we know what He does and what He requires of us. In order to imitate God, we have to strip ourselves of our former nature, our previous manner of life and constantly allow the renewal of our spirit. We have to put on the new nature created in God‘s image, in true holiness, and righteousness. We do that on purpose, intentionally, with conviction. We reject lies and express only Truth, when angry we don’t sin, and we do honest work. Paul reminds us to speak wholesome words, words that are good and beneficial for spiritual progress. We’re warned about grieving the Holy Spirit. Paul leaves no stone unturned when he tells us to banish all bitterness and resentment, quarreling and slander, malice and ill will. He tells us to become useful and kind to one another, forgiving each other. We have to know Him in order to imitate Him. We have to go deep and then desire to go deeper still. Our strength, our courage, our boldness comes from our desire to imitate Him. Perhaps, just so we didn’t miss it, He stepped down from heaven to show us. Through all His suffering and affliction in the short time He was here, the only thing He cursed was the fig tree that produced no fruit. From the cross, He asked for forgiveness for those who put Him there. Here we are, dressed in our new nature, are we glorifying Him or ‘throwing shade’ on His Name? Lord, help us to imitate You in love and truth, even when it’s hard.