Be Imitators Of God

INTRO.- Who’s your favorite Hollywood actor? Actress? Would you want to be like him or her?

Today, I wouldn’t want to be like any Hollywood actor, but when I was a kid I wanted to be like Leonard Slye. Who’s that? The king of the cowboys, Roy Rogers. He was one of the good guys, one of the good cowboys: handsome, could shoot, ride and fight. He was also a good singer, but of course, I really didn’t care about singing. I just wanted to be able to shoot and ride well!

He was born November 15, 1911 as Leonard Frank Slye, in Cincinnati Ohio; the son of Mattie and Andy Slye. His youth was steeped in poverty. His father worked in a shoe factory. The house he was born in was later destroyed to make way for Riverfront Stadium, (the home of the Cincinnati Reds). in fact Roy often joked that he was born right where second base was located. Roy died on July 6, 1998 at age 86.

In 1943 Roy was voted the #1 Western star at the box office, and Republic began billing him as the King of the Cowboys.

In 1944, a lovely young cowgirl named Dale Evans co-starred beside Roy in "The Cowboy And The Senorita." There was something about the couple that sparked audiences. With Gabby Hayes, Roy’s trusty sidekick, Dale, and The Sons of The Pioneers all together, the package was complete. The public absolutely loved them.

After Arline passed away in 1946 life was hard for Roy, but with the help of family and his work, he survived. In 1947, while Roy and Dale were working a rodeo in Chicago, Roy asked Dale to marry him. On New Years Day, 1947 the two were hitched.

Dale was such an amazing person, she had little trouble juggling the responsibility of taking care of three children, plus a new marriage, and her filming career.

In August of 1950 Roy and Dale became the parents of Robin Elizabeth. A few days after her birth, Robin was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. The doctors advised them to place the girl in an institution. But for Roy and

Dale, this was never an option.

Roy said, "There must have been a reason God gave us this child, so we would take her home, take care of her,and love her."

Despite receiving the best care possible, Robin died shortly before her second birthday. Her death not only strengthened the Rogers’ faith in God, but was the inspiration for Dale’s book, "Angel Unaware."

Roy was the only man in the Country Music Hall of Fame twice. His fan club once boasted 1.75 million members registered in the United States alone. His fan mail peaked at 75,000 letters a month in 1945.

He was a good Christian man who could well be imitated by me and millions of others! Imitated mainly, of course, for his Christian life and attributes. But as great as Roy Rogers was, there is someone greater who needs to be imitated.

Not only do we need to know Him, WE NEED TO BE LIKE HIM! Paul said clearly, "Be imitators of God..."

PROP.- According to this text, in what ways should we imitate God?

1- Imitate His love

2- Imitate His holiness

3- Imitate His wisdom

I. IMITATE HIS LOVE

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Is there is anything greater than love? Is there anything greater than God’s love?

John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:12-13 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

I Cor. 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Col. 3:13-14 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

I Peter 4:7-8 "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

Here’s an example of God’s love.

ILL.- His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.