Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:1-2, NKJV

Our lives influence others. Like it or not, you are someone’s role model. Someone is watching you, observing the way you conduct yourself, learning lessons from the life you are living. Thus the importance of striving to live as a good example for others to imitate.

Believers in Jesus Christ should be good role models for others to observe. Our lives should bear character traits which we have learned by following Christ. As we study the life of Jesus we begin to see clearly how all that He did was focused on glorifying His Father and striving to lead others to embrace the truth of His message of grace. He embodied behavioral patterns which showed clearly that His life was lived with purpose. So should ours.

The apostle Paul gave clear words of instruction on how to embody the same behavioral patterns as did Jesus. Reading on in the passage quoted above, he says:

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:3-7, NKJV

Sound words of instruction, and sobering words of warning! Not only does Paul teach that our lives should be good examples of Christlike behavior, but that lives lived in such a way as to disparage the name of Christ have no hope of eternal life in heaven with Christ.

The Bible makes it clear that once one has been born again into the family of God, his/her life should begin the process of becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ. Again, turning to the words of Paul, we learn some key principles of making this a reality. Paul speaks of putting off and putting on. Listen carefully to his words.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24, NKJV

Paul then follows this with specific examples of how to put off the old and put on the new (see Ephesians 5:25-32 for his wise counsel). The life of the believer should bear the family traits of being a child of God, not a child of the world. Before being saved by the glorious grace of God, my life bore the character traits of worldliness. After being born again into God’s family, my life began to take on the character traits of Jesus Christ. It has been an ongoing process that began on September 13, 1977, and continues to the present. It will continue until the day I am called from this life by way of death or the rapture.

Hopefully, when people see me now, they see more of Jesus in me than they did last year, or five years ago, or forty-six years ago. Hopefully, if they see me again next year, they will see still more of Jesus in me as I strive to put off the old and replace it with the new.

How about you? Have you embraced some worldly actions and attitudes that need to be discarded and replaced with Godly actions and attitudes? When you gaze into the mirror of God’s word, does your reflection depict true Godliness, or does it reveal worldly-mindedness which needs to be discarded and replaced? Are you living a lifestyle which is clearly denounced in Scripture? Are you engaged in relationships which are denounced by the Bible? Are you involved in activities which are clearly identified as sinful? Then it is time to put off the old, and put on the new. Then, and only then, will we be able to truly influence others in a Godly, Christ-honoring way.

Let me close with a reminder of some words spoken by Jesus Himself:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16, NKJV

Let’s heed this strong word of admonition, and shine for Jesus.

Blessings!