START ACTING LIKE GOD
by Pastor Lem Niere
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children” Ephesians 5:1.
Have you ever been depressed, but because you were with other people, you had no choice but to smile, laugh, and act as if everything was fine? Can you remember a time when you were having a very upsetting or emotional talk with someone at home—and suddenly the phone rang? Did you notice how your voice changed from sounding gloomy to sounding like a cheerful welcoming committee when you answered the call? “Hello! I’m so glad to hear from you. How are you?”
To disguise what you really were feeling in these different situations, you were required to act.
Acting is an ability that every human being possesses. Children know how to act. Teenagers know how to act. Husbands and wives know how to act. Employees know how to act. In other words, every person on this planet knows how to switch into an acting mode! Acting is something everyone can do.
In our text, Ephesians 5:1, the apostle Paul said, “Be therefore followers of God, as dear children.” The word “followers” is the Greek word. It means to imitate someone or to mimic what you see someone doing. Used to describe actors who acted on state for their profession. This word is frequently used in the New Testament. Paul is telling us to model our lives after God. This means we must make a decision to act like God!
Acting like God is not something you attain the first time you try. To successfully replicate God in you life—will require commitment and time. Don’t expect to arrive at this high level of duplication overnight. Resolve to start where you are today. Then do more tomorrow. Keep it up until you finally begin to think like God, talk like God, sound like God, and carry yourself in the confidence of God.
Why don’t you make a decision to put your unsanctified emotions, thoughts, feelings, and behaviour aside, and start acting like God? What would happen to your life, your family, your church, your community, and the world if you did that? Problems would appear very small, and you’d believe you could overcome every one of them. You would have sufficient love, patience, and forgiveness for every unloving person.
Why don’t you make the decision to take up acting? Resolve today that in every situation, you’re going to imitate your Heavenly Father, the greatest Role Model of all.
Remember, when you face a challenge, you don’t have to sit by wondering what God would say or do. His “script”
—His Word (the Bible)—is always available to help you learn how to act like Him
