Wednesday, June 8, 2016
In the 11th Chapter of Corinthians, Paul gave some very important advice for the church, including the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. (Holy Communion) The very first verse to me, however, though very short, has stayed with me longer than the rest of the things he shared in the chapter. It says: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (KJV) Still, I like the American Standard Version (ASV) of it even better. It says it this way:“Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
I was thinking of this verse again yesterday while I was reflecting on the many people that I’ve met throughout the years of whom I have said to myself. “I wish I could be like him or her.” Have you had people in your life, or have them now, of whom you have thought the same, those who possess many great virtues, or have one which is outstanding? It could be their kindness, love, generosity, humility, wisdom, drive, or something else, but whatever it is, it gives you a genuine desire to emulate what you see in them. I suppose if there was ever anybody who could be bold enough to tell others “imitate me”, especially in regard to serving the Lord, it would be the Apostle Paul. There are entertainers who have made a fortune imitating famous celebrities but I think there is even a greater benefit available to us if we can imitate some godly folks we have known in our lifetime. The great thing about this also is that many of these who are worthy of emulating, live amongst us.
They say that “imitation is the highest form of flattery” so if anyone has ever told you that they wish they could be like you, they couldn’t give you a better compliment. If you’ve heard others tell you the same, I congratulate you, especially if it involves Christ like virtues. That would be a good indication that you are living a God honoring life. If and when it happens to us, however, I pray the Lord will give us the grace and wisdom to reply, “No, please, you can do much better than that, try to be like Jesus instead.”
Memory verse for the week (1 Peter 5:8) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
