Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (Eph 5:1 NIV)

If somebody else than the apostle St. Paul would have given this admonition to imitate God and to follow his example, then we might have responded, that you can not imitate or follow God. We are but dust and how should we imitate or follow the ultimate and paramount being? If somebody should want to follow the sun, we would deem him crazy. What therefore of someone who wants to follow or imitate God? This argumentation has some logical value surely. However we read this admonition of God’s special envoy and apostle, who gives us this command in the name of the Highest: Be imitators of God!   He gives us the reasoning behind this: … as dearly loved children! Because we are children, born of God, therefore we can, are allowed to and should follow the Father, who has begotten us as his children. And because we as his children are also loved by him, therefore we have even an added and better drawing card towards the divine good and following of our Father. We are God’s children by the grace of our most holy Baptism. Since then the divine and new creation is in us with its positive strength and power to give ear and following to this divine call from our Father to imitate him and be his followers.

Almighty, merciful Father! We thank and praise you, that you are our Father and hast made us your children. Grant that we live as your children and that we abide faithfully by your commandments in our lives, so that the world would recognize the grace that we have received. Let our way of life demonstrate your love and kindness and thus be a constant invitation to join in the praise of your grace and glory. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 (J. Otter)

It’s not hard to be a Christian and to live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our old Adam would like to make us believe that this is not so and opposes our calling to follow Jesus with our cross and into his death, but grace continues to keep us on track and let’s us survive this struggle too.

You are called to be a child of faith and practice love, that you yourself have received. Don’t be despondent, but rather pick up courage and don’t be afraid – for it’s not too difficult at all.

Your father requires your heart to fill it with pure grace. The faithful God does not push the pain too far, it is mainly your own faint heart that objects and laments. Therefore commit yourself to your Lord and God. He will take good care – even beyond suffering and death.

Cast away all trouble and tribulation, which burdens and plagues your heart and mind. Remain faithful and keep up hope even while fear and sorrow gnaw at your heart. Pray: “Father, have mercy on me” and behold it will be done! (Christian Friedrich Richter, 1676-1711)

This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Sunday Oculi (Third Sunday in Lent). The hymn was translated rather literally, but not poetically. Both are found on Pg. 131 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.