Do You Imitate the Devil?

I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father... You are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God... You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me... You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

- John 8:38-44

Jesus is not very 'nice' to the religious folks in this passage.  They claim God as their father, but Jesus points out that it doesn't matter much what they say, because they are imitators of the devil. 

The really awkward question for us is "Who do you look like more - God or the devil?" When do you power up to get what you want, when do you give in to the anger that lies beneath the surface, when do you avoid truth?  Those are signs of you imitating someone who is NOT Jesus!  Today is a good day to ask forgiveness and for the grace to follow after Jesus and imitate him!