Be Imitators of God

Morning

Let your speech always be with grace.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. • Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. •

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. • By your words you will be justified. • The tongue of the wise promotes health.

Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.

If you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. • But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence… see that you abound in this grace also.

Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 25:11–12; Ephesians 4:29; Matthew 12:35; Matthew 12:37; Proverbs 12:18; Malachi 3:16; Jeremiah 15:19; 2 Corinthians 8:7

Evening

Your lovingkindness is before my eyes.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. • Your Father in heaven… makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

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. • Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. • Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. • The love of Christ compels us.

Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Psalm 26:3; Psalm 145:8; Matthew 5:45; Ephesians 5:1–2; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Luke 6:35–36

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Your Turn

“Be imitators of God” — That sets the bar so high, it’s overwhelming! Today, let’s pray for God’s grace and help to live as Christ lived! Come leave your thoughts on our blog! We’d love to have you join the conversation about imitating God in our daily lives! ~ Devotionals Daily