Following the Leader
Your Nightly Prayer for Apr. 3, 2025
By Sophia Bricker
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV
SOMETHING TO PONDER
“Follow the leader!” This command from the teacher made all the kids line up behind her. We giggled as she started walking and making silly gestures with her hands. Fresh laughter broke through the group when all the students tried their best to copy her movements. Soon, another student was crowned as the leader and the game started anew.
I still remember the excitement of that childhood game, which was a mainstay at school and part of play at home. Mixed into the fun, though, was a lesson. The other kids and I were learning, on a simple level, how to imitate the actions of another. But little did we know that this game can serve as an illustration of what it means to be followers of Jesus. Like the command of the teacher to “follow the leader,” the Bible tells believers to be imitators of God. We are meant to copy our Savior, in word and deed, learning to live and love as He did during His earthly ministry.
We are called to lay down our lives in love for others. To forgive as we have been forgiven. To put away anger and instead walk in compassion. Throughout Scripture, we are told to be holy as our Lord is holy (Leviticus 19:2), and that we were made “to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24, NIV). We are being conformed to His image, and as such, we are meant to imitate Him – Because disciples learn best by following their Lord.
The season of Lent is an opportune time to turn our thoughts to what it looks like to walk as Jesus did. How did He interact with others? What were His priorities and practices? Observing our Savior helps us to better copy His movement and mindset – to align our daily choices and perspectives with His. At first, our progress as disciples might look as simple as the actions of a child during a game. However, as we keep following Christ and living as the new creations we are, our movements will begin to look steadier. That is, if we keep our focus on the Leader.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
When I think of Your holiness, Lord, I am amazed that You would want to be in a relationship with me and to shape me to reflect You. Because of Your Son, I am washed clean from my sins and given a new self so I can walk in righteous obedience to You. Set my focus firmly on the life of Your Son so that I can learn to walk as He walked, love as He loved, forgive as He forgave, and surrender as He surrendered to Your will. May I follow You, O Lord, all the days of my life.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. A game you enjoyed as a kid or still enjoy now. What made (or makes) it fun for you?
2. A characteristic of our Lord, such as His mercy or compassion. How might you seek to imitate Him this week?
3. The childlike habit of mimicking what one sees and hears. In what ways might you recapture this simplicity when adopting practices and habits to be more like Jesus during the season of Lent?
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Maeghan Smulders
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Originally published Thursday, 03 April 2025.
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