The Ways Of God: Becoming More Like Him

God’s primary goal for us is to make us look like Him, restoring us back to His image (Genesis 1.26-27) that sin interrupted.

The more we look like and imitate God, the more His ways are replicated through us; the more He is glorified; and the more everything around us begins to look like Him too. Living out the ways of God is how we stand out from the world.

What Does It Mean To Be Like God?

“Being like God” doesn’t mean that we’re to be like Him as an equal. After all, He has no equal (Psalm 113:5; Psalm 89.6-8). When we say to be like God or be more like God, this means to “imitate” His likeness.

The Apostle Paul told believers to “imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11.1‬). We see this call repeated throughout Scripture to imitate and follow the ways of God and to follow people who follow God (Luke 6.40, John 17.18, 23; 20.21).

The Greek word used by Paul in 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11.1 is mimētēs and refers to an imitator or follower. It’s also where we derive the word “mime.”

Ephesians 5.1 AMP expands the context of this: “Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” The KJV translation references it as “be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children…”

Knowing God

To imitate God’s likeness and become more like Him, we first have to know what He is like. And we can know Him through the Scriptures.

Moses desired to know the ways of God so that He would know God more intimately rather than just knowing about Him (Exodus 33.13). God Himself said that if we’re going to brag about anything, let’s brag about knowing and understanding Him (Jeremiah 9.24).

Knowing God also helps us to identify what is not like God as we navigate culture and confront hard stuff. For example, how do we know God is good? How can we practically speak to that?

Having this Scriptural insight + personal experience helps us to not just know God better, but to love and live for Him better.

Learning + Growing In The Ways of God

Lionshare, a disciple-making and equipping ministry, offers a free app (Apple, Android) with daily 2-minute devotionals on the character of God. This is a great resource and one I use personally to continually learn and renew my mind about what God is like so that I’m ready to live for Him each day.

My daily goal, yesterday, today, and each day after is summed up simply as becoming more like the Father, God. The more I know Him and take on His likeness, the more is He is pleased and reflected in our dark world.