12 October 2025

Daily Devotion:

"Imitators of God"

Ephesians 5:1

New Living Translation

5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Be yourself, they say. But sometimes it's a little scary to own one's true self, the person God designed each of us to be, because that person doesn't fit in as well as the next one. But true joy comes when we dare to be who we're made to be, quirks and all.

Quirky isn't synonymous with flawed. “Outside the box” isn't a bad thing. Jesus was very outside the box. So were John the Baptist, Hosea, Deborah, Esther...and so on.

As you grow and mature in the Lord, certain interests, strengths, and traits will show themselves, and some of them might be a little unusual. Maybe you've discovered you'd rather serve homeless men and prostitutes than have a moretraditional ministry. Or perhaps you love motorcycles and dreadlocks more than sedans and refined haircuts. Maybe you'd rather adopt six kids than bear your own biological children.

Good news: you don't have to conform to any particular, idealized Christian image except for one: Jesus Himself.