I have 3 kids, so I can attest to this—imitation is something that comes very naturally to children.
They’re wired to watch somebody else do something, and then want to go emulate what they just saw—even if it’s just in the form of pretend play. If you think about it, how else are little children supposed to learn how to be human, other than by watching other humans do human stuff?
Holiness as imitation
When it comes to what “holiness” is in the Bible, I think the apostle Paul got it right:
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Following Jesus means learning how to imitate Him.
It means watching the Master like an apprentice, analyzing His every move, then seeking to emulate what you just learned so you too can become like the Master.
Or, it’s like a child watching their Father in action, then turning around and trying to do what He just did.
Following God is about imitation. We learn by watching Him.
Imitating the ultimate Artist
As artists and creatives, this even applies to our creative work. When we’re out there painting, writing, designing, building, filming, or whatever your creative thing is, we’re imitating the ultimate Artist. We’re being like Him, doing what He does.
Like an art student watching a seasoned artist create their next masterpiece.
For children of God, underneath that desire to create, is another, much deeper desire:
“I want to be like my Dad.”
That’s the real reason and motivation (or should be at least) for why you want to create beautiful, inspiring, helpful, and creative things.
It’s imitation.
So the next time you sit down to plan out or work on your creative project, remember: you’re imitating your Father.
Your art is an act of worship.
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