Imitation

Both of my girls are really into Star Wars right now.  It's all they really want to watch.  Each of the six movies is their favorite.  Now with that comes the imitation.  Isabella runs around with a light saber pretending to be Luke Skywalker (much in the same way as I did as a little boy, except I didn't have a light saber, just a flash light).  Sophia pretends to be Leia.  Together they run around the house and the yard saving the galaxy from Darth Vader and the Empire.
Malachi is also learning the fine art of imitation.  Just yesterday I was holding him outside, and the neighbor's cow went, "Moooooooo!"  Right after the cow said it, Malachi mimicked it by saying, "Mooo!"
Malachi is also imitating his father.  We were together at the kitchen table, and the cat jumped up into the outside window ledge (I guess it was curious about what goes on inside).  On a whim, I hissed at the cat.  Likewise, Malachi did the same.  I did it again, and he copied.  This continued for a little bit, and we both had a good laugh.
Now consider the words of the Apostle Paul when he says, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children" (Ephesians 5:1 NASB).
If we are the children of God, it only makes sense that we also imitate our Father.  What kind of characteristics does God reveal about Himself?  Imitate that.  Of course, to get an accurate picture of our Father, we must know His Word.
On the other hand, if we refuse to walk in the ways of our Heavenly Father, then there is good biblical reason to wonder who our father really is.  1 John 3:1 says, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother" (NASB).