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READ: JOHN 13:1-17; EPHESIANS 5:1-2\n\n\n\nHave you ever seen a child imitating an adult? It can be so cute to watch a small child try to mix pretend food in empty pots, imitate a parent\u2019s expression, or repeat a phrase they haven\u2019t fully mastered yet. That\u2019s how kids learn. They imitate the people they see.\n\n\n\nThe Bible says something similar in Ephesians 5:1: \u201cImitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.\u201d But we weren\u2019t always God\u2019s children. In fact, at one time we were all separated from God because of our sin. But God loves us so much that Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross to save us, and He rose from the dead to make the way for us to be with Him always. Once we put our trust in Jesus, we can know that we have been adopted into His family and we belong to Him forever. And, just as kids imitate the people they spend the most time with, God calls His children to imitate Jesus.\n\n\n\nSo how can we imitate Jesus? Well, we can start by looking at what He said and did in the Bible. As we read and study God\u2019s Word, we see how much He loves us. Especially in the accounts of Jesus\u2019s ministry on earth, it\u2019s captivating to see how Jesus responded to people. No matter if they treated Him with honor or contempt, Jesus wanted them to know His love (Matthew 9:36; 23:37; Luke 23:34). We can also learn about His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is God the Son, and He loved and trusted the Father through everything. And in all kinds of situations, Jesus\u2019s character was revealed by His actions. As we study Jesus\u2019s life and trust Him to help us follow His example in our own lives, we will act more and more like Him.\n\n\n\nOf course, none of this is possible in our own strength, but as Christians we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, transforming us into Jesus\u2019s image. When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we can learn how to \u201clive a life filled with love, following the example of Christ\u201d (Ephesians 5:2). \u2022 A. W. Smith\n\n\n\n\u2022 Everyone imitates other people\u2014from little kids to elderly adults. Can you think of anyone you imitate, whether intentionally or unintentionally? Why do you think that might be?\n\n\n\n\u2022 In John 13:1-17, what do you notice about how Jesus acts and how He treats people? Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you learn how you can imitate Jesus in your life. If you want to dig deeper, you could start reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).\n\n\n\nLive a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)