Imitators - “Follow my example”

After Pentecost (X)

1 Corinthians 11:1,2

A few weeks ago I was telling you about the scandal of a famous football player Michael Vick (QB for Falcons - dogfight problem). Later he was on national TV apologizing to the public. Among other things, he said something that was important. He apologized to the thousand kids for not being a good example for them.

Senator Larry Craig’s scandal is another sad story about not being a good example. He first denied the event, then apologized, then resigned; now he changed his mind… What is next? What kind of example he is to the public?

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1). Paul repeats this statement several times. “Follow my example”

“Therefore I urge you to imitate me” (1 Corinth 4:16).

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1).

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6).

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7).

All these verses urge the church members to find the right leader and follow his steps. When we read the Bible, we meet leaders who were teaching their followers. The best example is Jesus as he chose his disciples and called them to follow his steps.

Jesus also said he has a very special relationship with the Father. He is doing things according to the will of his Father.

"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19).

Jesus is talking about IMITATION.

By the way, we all imitate someone.

We all grew up in different ways. In our lives, we find people who would be our “heroes”. Unintentionally we start imitating them.

I remember when John Travolta played the movie “Saturday Night Fever” I started to walk like him. Not only me, all of my classmates. Same shirt, same trousers (patelefan). When I became a Christian, I had several role models who helped me shape my Christian character.

On one hand, Paul wants us to imitate him.

In the last two months, we studied the church of Corinth. We saw how Paul addressed the issues. He did not just give them orders about how to live, he also lived that way, and gave examples from his own life.

On the other hand, Paul wanted us to be imitators of God. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1). For Paul and for us, God is our ultimate source. We need to be imitators of Jesus. No doubt, our lives will be transformed and people will see Jesus in us.

In order to imitate someone, one has to have a relationship with that object or person. Three important points:

1- Have someone to look up who is close to Christ.

Of course, Christ is the best example to look up to, yet we all need to look up to people who are followers of Jesus and their lives are transformed in every respect.

I have a friend in Beirut who has a small sign-making factory. He is a devoted Christian. He often invites young people from the church to work for him. I love this idea, because it proves to me that his life at the workshop is in harmony with his life in the church. His leadership in business is conducted with Christian principles. He is not hiding anything. He is a role model for many.

2- We read in Proverbs, “As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Pr. 27:17). In imitation there are tough days. Iron sharpens iron. No one sharpens iron with soft materials. Paul was tough in his teachings and instructions. He was not arrogant. He was a loving leader, with an iron hand. One of the places where “iron can sharpen iron” is the church. We need a Christian environment. We need healthy peer environment. I encourage my children to come to church; I want them to have Christian friends. Christian Friendship is not just built on playing the same games or having common interests. No, it is more than that: learning about God, studying His Word, praying together, struggling with life issues together. This is one of the reasons I pray and work hard that CACC Sunday school and youth programs will do their best.

3- Someone is looking up to you

There probably is someone who looks up to you and in watching you. You are responsible to be Christlike. People are watching you. I have been camp counselor for many years in church camps. Every morning we had teachings from the Bible. In the afternoons, we had games and activities. It bothered me to see that some of the camp leaders were “cheating” in the games in order to win. I used to explain that although one reason to have these games is recreation and fun, but at the same time, it is an opportunity to teach them how to conduct Christian behavior.

Our lives should be Christ-centered.

We all influence someone. What is your influence?

Are you living a life that imitates Christ and leads others to Him?

This does not mean one has to be perfect to lead others to Christ. You think Paul was perfect. No, he learned, obeyed God, and followed Christ daily.

I would like to end by looking at Paul again. He was an example for young Timothy. He taught him and trained him.

“You however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, suffering…” (2 Tim 3:10).

Let us go and be imitators of Christ.