 |
|
| Volume 26 Number 2 February 2024 |
Page 5 |
|
|
| Volume 26 Number 2 February 2024 |
Page 5 |
Robert Johnson
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV). It is interesting how many times in the New Testament we find encouragement to be imitators. Twice, Paul told the church in Corinth to imitate him – first as children would their fathers (4:16) and in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Of course, imitating any Christian must never exceed the extent to which one imitates Christ. In Ephesians 5:1, Paul exhorted Christians to imitate God as beloved children, specifically, to live in love. Twice, he praised the church in Thessalonica for imitating him, the congregations in Judea and of God, despite enduring hardship for the sake of the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14). The writer of Hebrews encouraged his readers not to grow lazy in their faith but to imitate the faith and patience of those intent on inheriting God’s promises (Hebrews 6:12).
The term for “imitate” in the Greek comes from the term (mimetes), from which the root term gives us our English word “mimic.” It is not just performing or acting as others do; imitating faith means a readiness to take upon oneself the same type of faith that shows full commitment to Christ, as others have done in their lives. Imitating is not being attached to another person in the sense of reflecting the mannerisms or speech of another but reflecting what it is that has motivated someone to behave as he does. Regarding Christianity, the child of God’s motivation is his spiritual, integral relationship to Christ. This is what the author of Hebrews conveyed to his readers. “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (13:7-8 ESV). What ought to be imitated is commitment to Christ and the life that genuine faith in Christ produces. This is commendable because only Christ remains consistently the same in His dealings with us, who is ultimately the One Christians are trying to imitate.
What we seek to offer each other, then, by way of example, isn’t to replicate the mechanics of life but a faith that produces a specific lifestyle of living in Christ (Philippians 1:21). Genuine faith isn’t attending worship simply because another person does so but because this is what a vibrant relationship with Christ motivates us to do, as it has in the lives of others, who have encouraged us. Living for Christ should be integral to us, an essential part of who we are in Christ. We let our lights shine for others so they can see how important Christ is to us, so that they may come to faith in our Lord and seek such a relationship with Him as well, because He is that important to them. This is how we can encourage each other in Christian living, to be reminded by each other’s example how crucial Christ is to what we say and do. In times of weakness, trials or doubt, seeing such a life, such faith at work, encourages us not to give up but to keep our focus on the spiritual. This is what genuine faith is all about. It’s the basis by which Paul could say faith works through love (Galatians 5:6).
We should thank God for those people in our lives who have a genuine commitment to God and who help us live faithful lives in Christ, because God’s love and its expression in the sacrifice of Christ is operative in them (1 John 3:16-18). We need people in our lives whose faith is real, not based simply on what someone else does or says. We need fellowship with others who love God and are willing to sacrifice, doing whatever it takes to live faithfully for Him. Like Paul, these are people we should imitate, because they have that kind of faith, that kind of dedication and that willingness to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2).
Some people live on borrowed faith, imitating the actions of others until those others are no longer around. This kind of imitation cannot please God because it isn’t from the heart, and it isn’t part of who they truly are. May we be like Paul, seeking an indisputable walk with the Lord that produces true holiness. May we assume the devotion of David, who wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
