Imitatio Dei

The Lord will establish you as His holy people, as He swore to you, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the Lord's name, and they will stand in awe of you. – Deuteronomy 28:9-10 HCSB

What has the Lord our God ever asked of us except to fear Him by walking in all His ways, loving and worshiping Him with all our hearts and souls? We must keep the Lord’s commands and statutes for our own good.[1]

We must be careful to do as Adonai has commanded us, turning neither to the right nor to the left, but instead, following the whole instruction He has given us so that we may live, prosper and achieve longevity wherever He has planted us.[2]

We must conscientiously obey His commands and instructions which are: to love Him, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him and serve Him with all our hearts and all our souls.[3]

He is, after all, Yahweh Ga’al our God, who freed us from bondage and death. If we will, in faith, open our mouths wide, He will fill them.

But Humanity often will not listen – will not obey El Ch’uwl. So He has to give them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans. If only His people would listen to Him and follow His ways![4]

Then He would give them one heart and put a new spirit within them. He would remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh so that they may follow His statutes, keep His ordinances and practice them. Then they would truly be His people and He their God.

But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for detestable things and abominations, El Gadol Gibor Yare will bring their actions down on their own heads.[5]

For God’s Grace, Yeshua ben Adonai, has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works. Therefore we must not only practice but also say these things, encouraging others and rebuking with all authority.[6]

Let’s get our minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set our hope completely on the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, let’s not be conformed to the desires of our former ignorance but, as the One who called us is holy, let us also be holy in all our conduct; for it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.”[7]


[1] Deuteronomy 10:12-13
[2] Deuteronomy 5:32-33
[3] Joshua 22:5
[4] Psalm 81:10-13
[5] Ezekiel 11:19-21
[6] Titus 2:11-15
[7] 1 Peter 1:13-16