Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1
Imitation usually means one of two things for us today: either it is something fake in the place of the real thing or it is someone doing an impersonation of someone else. Imitation may mean lower in fat or cheaper in cost, but it is still not a term we generally think of in a constructive manner and while a comedian may be able to perform a good imitation of a famous person the imitation still speaks of something false.
However, in the Bible we find that imitating has a very positive meaning and is something we should all strive for in our lives. Let’s look at the actual meaning of the Biblical word translated imitate.
- To use or follow as a model.
- To copy the actions, appearance, mannerisms, or speech of; mimic.
- To follow or mimic.
Followers of what? Mimics of who? Imitator how? We should imitate Paul as he imitates Christ. For the Christian it always leads back to Christ. Paul was an imitator of Christ. He followed Christ; he copied Christ; he tried to reproduce Christ in his life; he behaved, appeared and spoke the words of Christ and in doing so Paul boldly tells us we should imitate him because he was a true reproduction of Christ. So, this begs the question, Do you live a life worthy of an imitation of Christ and if others imitate you will they be like Jesus?
Of course to be able to imitate God we must first spend time with God, read God’s Word, and communicate with God through prayer. However, imitating God takes consistency and diligence.
The Bible is full of such specific descriptions on how to live the life of a Christian. I am amazed when I hear it is too hard to know how to live the Christian life.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
- Psalms 5:7
Multitudes today who profess to be Christians, lovers of God, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and promoters of righteousness, willfully absent themselves from the house of God and despise the blessed privilege of public worship. They justify their actions and excuse their disobedience by pointing to personal inconveniences or objectionable things perceived in a local church. A person who is determined to walk in a course of disobedience never lacks for excuses to do so, but you will never find justification for neglecting the worship of God in Holy Scripture.
In Nehemiah’s day, the children of Israel who had long been without the privileges of worship in the house of God made a covenant and took an oath saying, “We will not forsake the house of our God”, Nehemiah 10:39. The Shunammite woman rode a donkey every Sabbath day to hear God’s prophet at Carmel, though her husband objected to it, 2 Kings 4:23. In David’s time, the saints of God “passed through the valley of Baca” to worship God at Zion, Psalms 84:6. In Daniel’s day the children of God “ran to and fro to increase knowledge, and to know more of the Lord God”, Daniel 12:4. Zechariah tells us that in his days, the inhabitants of one city went to another saying, “Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts”, Zechariah 8:21. Even our Lord and his disciples went to considerable trouble and inconvenience to meet together and worship God, Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16. The Ethiopian Eunuch journeyed from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship God, seeking to know him of whom the prophets spoke, Acts 8:25
Call it fanaticism if you choose that anyone who speaks of being a Christian, worshipping God, being a believer and yet willfully neglects the worship of God ought to blush with shame for their obvious insincerity. All who know God in the experience of his grace delight in worshipping Him.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.