My Idols

Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved Children -Ephesians 5:1 CEB

   As long as I can remember, I wanted to be like my Dad. He was and still is my hero. He is my role model and idol.  He worked tirelessly to make sure his wife, mother, and his only son were taken care of.  I used to follow him around all the time as a kid. I wanted to drive that marron ’78 El Comino like him. I wanted to work with my hands like him. I wanted to wash the cars and learn what he did. I just loved the times we shared growing up.  (I’m tearing up writing this thing.)

Dad didn’t want me to be him. He wanted me to be better than him. He and my mom supported my efforts in my education. They made sure I had everything I needed. He and mom made sure that I valued hard work. So I was allowed to work while in school but I didn’t have to. Because of their love and support, I have two degrees and a job that I love to do. I hope to one day own a home and have a loving family, just like my dad.

Jesus is someone that I hope to be more like as well. We all should want to be more like Him.  He was loving, inclusive, understanding, compassionate and a true friend.  We are called Christians because we reflect the principles and actions of Christ. Every day I see professing Christians that do the opposite of what we are called to do. We aren’t loving and welcoming. We call each other out of our names. We make rules and laws that don’t reflect the Christ that we are called to imitate. We abandon people that don’t look and think like us. We have forgotten what it means to take care of the “least of these”, in society.

We all have to make an effort to follow and imitate Christ like I followed and imitate my dad.  If we say we are who we say we are, then we must act like it.  We have to get to know Him by studying His word. We have to do the hard work of making all people welcome and show them, unconditional love.  We have to do like what Paul said:

Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ-Ephesians 4:31-32 CEB

When we do those things we, are more like Jesus.  Jesus, like my dad, wants to brag about the good things we do. He is already proud of us and loves us because he gave his life for us. He wants us to live our best life and succeed. He wants us to shine.  Jesus wants us to do greater things than he did.  Just like the 70-year-old guy that used to drive a 78′ El Camino that adores his son, Jesus adores us.  Thanks, Dad and Jesus for being two people I strive to be more like every day.