To imitate someone means that you copy what they do, what they say, or how they behave. Sometimes you may choose to imitate something because you like it and it seems like a cool thing to do. But sometimes you may be imitating someone or something and not even realize you are doing it.
For example, my third-grade teacher would use two fingers to squeeze her nose when she sneezed. Her sneezes had the cutest sound ever! It would also help her to avoid the embarrassment of a fly away or leaky sneeze. I thought this was a brilliant idea and without even realizing it, I began to do it myself. I still do it today.
It’s almost like some things are just contagious and if you spend enough time around it you just cannot help but to “catch” it. Has this ever happened to you? It is totally normal to “catch” certain actions from your friends or family members because you are always around them. But do you realize that you can also “catch” certain behaviors, words, and attitudes from people on a television show or in a magazine or book that you read?
God wants you to pay special attention to who and what you imitate, which means that you also need to be careful about who you are around the most and what you spend a lot of time doing. You have to be careful not to “catch” or copy things that are not like Jesus!
In 3 John 11 we are told, “Do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”
Dear God, help me know when I catch the wrong attitude or the wrong way of reacting when things do not go my way. And help me to spend so much time with You and people who love You that I catch a bit more of You each day. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Think about the way you spend your time and answer the following questions.
Do you enjoy…
Watching TV?
What is your favorite show or movie?
What do you like about it? Is it funny or adventurous?
What type of things do the characters do?
Hanging out with friends?
What do you like to do with them?
What do you talk about most?
Are your friends kind and generous to others?
Reading books?
What is your favorite book?
Who are the characters?
How do they behave? Are they kind, rude, smart, obedient?
Now, think back over your answers. Are you spending more time filling your heart and mind with things God wants for you or things He does not want for you? What actions and attitudes are you copying from a television show, a friend, or a book, maybe without even realizing it? If the behavior you’re copying isn’t godly, then it is probably time to make some changes!