This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Imitate someone as they imitate Christ.
This passage stood out to me. Hear 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” The command to us as members of the church is clear: “Be imitators of me.” This is Paul telling the church to mimic him in their Christian faith and conduct. But they are to imitate Paul “just as I also am of Christ.”
Consider how important this is for Paul when he told the church this. He states in 1 Corinthians 4:6: “Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.” But is this limited to the Apostle Paul as our example? No. In Philippians 3:17 Paul said “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” We are to be like Paul, yes. But we are also to observe those in the church that follow Paul, who follow Jesus.
Do you take this seriously? Is there someone in your church that you see them being like Christ? Let their example be something you cultivate as a Christian virtue.
Pray about it. Pray to God for someone you can follow their eample this Sunday. Ask God to reveal it to you providentially.
Some might say their church has no one mature to emulate. I think the more older I grow the more I see that a sign of spiritual maturity is the ability to learn from others; and also to see God’s extraordinary work in ordinary believers. In other words this might reveal more of a problem with you than a problem with the church per se. Sure we are to be discerning and not airbrush believers as perfect. But being cynical is not a virtue either.
If you struggle to look at an example in others consider the following. What struggles do you have? Is it patience? Forgiving others? Look around the church and ask: Who model this well? Let their example rub off on you. Be intentional in fellowship and talking to others today in church! Or consider a virtue you want to grow more in. Is it self-control? Discipline? Wisdom? Is there someone you can observe today at church on Sunday, that you can look more closely to be encouraged to be like them more?
Don’t waste your Sundays. Go imitate someone as they imitate Christ
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Thanks for the good exhortation! In our weak flesh, we often focus our attention on the brothers and sisters in the church who are doing a poor job of imitating Christ. Poor choice. If we all focus on those who are emulating Jesus and imitate them through God’s grace, we can start a chain reaction in the church!
I say Amen to what you said: ” If we all focus on those who are emulating Jesus and imitate them through God’s grace, we can start a chain reaction in the church!” You are an example to all of us with your conviction on not compromising the Gospel and zeal for the truth in standing against error. Do you have to shovel the driveway in order to go to church this morning?
Thanks, brother! I’m humbled by your kind comments. The Lord grants different gifts to build up and strengthen the Body! It’s actually 43F, sunny, and not a snowflake in sight here in ROC! Just like LA! Worked on the leaves for one hour after church and now it’s couch time until 9 PM. I know you’re very busy all day today, hope your day is blessed!
Love this and the whole series. Thanks for making it happen.
Great application and exhortation!
Reblogged this on a simple man of God and commented:
I would say to not only limit this to your local congregation. That being said, I know no one in our little church is perfect, but there are things I see in most people that point me to Christ and I want to copy in my own life.
And it is such an encouragement to each of us when it is found out that one thing is encouraging someone else to be more Christ-like.
To know we are doing something right in our own walk that others want to copy it, that is encouraging because it is evidence that Christ is making us more like Himself through His Holy Spirit to the glory of the Father.
“Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
Daniel
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Thank you for sharing this unique way to follow Christ. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to find someone in the church who you can imitate. Perhaps, we can imitate a particilar characteristic of Christ in them. Overall, this begins with me. Is my behaviour Christ like so that others can imitate me? Blessings to you.
Amen with your comment. It begins with us to be a Christ like example if we don’t see any! Good point. Hope you have a blessed Sunday, hope you be an example today in the church sister Beverley!
Yes, I will. 🙂
This is great advice, brother!
This is a great series you are doing brother. Great advice here.
Thank you and blessings.
Aww you’re welcome and thank you for reading this. I’m trying to see if I can do a year’s worth of these (52). I’m praying for God to reveal to me different things that everyone at church can do. I hope you are doing well, I’m wide awake from everything with ministry, so pray I can finally be not so wired and get some rest this week.
I will be praying for you and your ministry. Prayer is a mystery . God is Sovereign and yet we have the example of Jesus waking up early to go and pray to the Father. He already knew the will if the Father and yet He prayed . And gets attacked by Satan big time .
Grace and peace as you rest and recover .
Wonderful advice.
[…] few months ago I wrote “This Sunday at Church: Imitate someone as they imitate Christ” and I exhorted we go to church and look for others to imitate being like Christ when we saw […]
Haven’t thought about this much before…