Today's Bible reading is the 5th chapter of the Book of John. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5&version=NASB

Twice in Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church he admonished them to be imitators of him. He also made it quite clear that such an admonishment was only appropriate as he was an imitator of Christ. In Ephesians 5:1 we have the well known verse of scripture that calls us "to be imitators of God, as beloved children." If we are careful and watchful, I believe we can see the fulfillment of all admonitions of goodness that have been directed towards the believer, in the person of Jesus. Today's chapter is so full of content regarding the person of Christ! As I read the chapter, the one thought that seemed to get my attention was that regarding this matter of being an "imitator". In the beginning of the chapter we find the story of the man who had some form of illness that had affected him for 38 years. As we read the text we find the man at the pool of water in Jerusalem called Bethesda (house of mercy). Out of God's mercy, an angel of the Lord would periodically go down to the pool and stir up the pool's water. Whoever was the first to step into the pool after the stirring of the waters would be healed of whatever the disease was that afflicted them. Jesus sees the man lying by the pool and begins a conversation with him. Presumably because of his illness, the man is unable to get into the pool after the waters are stirred and he tells Jesus that he has no one to put him into the pool. Jesus responds, not by offering to be the man to put him into the pool, but by telling him to pick up his pallet and walk. In extending mercy to the man, like God did to those at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus healed him of his illness of 38 years. In the 19th verse of today's chapter we see Jesus saying, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." Jesus imitated the Father. He saw what His father was doing and in like manner He did the same. Oh, that we might look and see what God is still doing and purpose by His indwelling Spirit to do the same. He is still being gracious and kind. May we be also. He is still being merciful. May we be also. He is still comforting troubled hearts. May we be also. He is still encouraging people. May we be also.  He is still concerned about the salvation of souls and He still loves the gospel. May we acknowledge the lost estate of men and love the gospel also. He still hates sin. May we hate it also. He is still being patient. May we be also. He still loves truth. May we love truth also .... Perhaps a child, a friend, a co-worker, a brother or sister in Christ, let us remember that we too may have others watching us.