Are you imitating Jesus Christ?
When others speak about you, do they speak of your life as a replica of Jesus?
Upon the Apostle Paul’s conversion to Christianity, his life goal was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and imitate Him as much as humanly possible. Notice his very words in his first letter to the Corinthians:
“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church” (1 Cor. 4:15-17)
The word translated “instructors” in the above verse referred to a guide or guardian of young boys. In the Greek and Roman times of that era, the term referred to trustworthy slaves who were given duty to supervise the life and morals of boys from a higher class. This was a job/requirement enforced upon these slaves to carry out, but Paul says to the Corinthian believers you are my children in Christ Jesus through your belief of the Gospel. Paul is explaining a truth here how God has elevated believers in Christ to a father/son spiritual relationship that supersedes any human bond. New spiritual family members are born each day whenever an individual believes the Gospel of their salvation (John 1:12, Gal. 3:26). Now imitate Christ. Notice Paul goes on in this letter:
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:1-3)
The commands and order to be like Christ are given in the above Scriptures. Paul says only as I follow (or imitate) Christ, then follow me in that same manner. We are to be faithful to heed everything Jesus spoke and faithful to emulate Him in every manner. Jesus is the exact image of God and He is our perfect example (John 10:30, Col. 1:15-20, Heb. 1:1-3).
Jesus is presented in four distinct ways throughout the Gospel account books of the Bible. Matthew presents Jesus as King. Jesus is not only the King of Jews but King of Kings. Mark presents Jesus as a servant. Jesus is the selfless servant who gave His life for mankind’s sins. Jesus is the humble servant of God. Luke presents Jesus as a man in humankind. Jesus is the perfect God-man. Jesus relates to humankind in every manner (physical, spiritual, mental, emotional well-being). Lastly, John presents Jesus as God. Jesus is the Divine Savior and literally God in flesh. Jesus demonstrates He is God by the miracles He performs and the utter perfection of His life and existence. To deny Jesus is God is to completely reject His whole person and truth. If we are to imitate Christ as Paul did, we must study Jesus’ life completely.
We are to be all that God has called us to be. God created us to emulate Him for His glory. Jesus is our example. Lead yourself and others in a godly manner as Jesus did (Be a King like Jesus who rules/leads righteously and holy). Serve others with a compassionate and cheerful heart (Be a Servant like Jesus who is patient, humble, selfless, giving, thankful). Relate to humankind considering others physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being from a God perspective (Be a Man like Jesus who did no evil but only good for mankind). Lastly, imitate the image of God by yielding yourself over to the Holy Spirit inside you. You can see and perform miracles everyday as you yield to God. Miracles are often unseen physically, but they are there when you quietly reflect on your life yielded to God.
So Christian, ask yourself, are you imitating Jesus Christ?
