IMITATORS OF CHRIST

Monday 24 February

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dear children, Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV)

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NKJV)

When you walk down certain city malls, you may see street performers putting on a show for the passers by. There are usually musicians, jugglers and even occasionally a mime artist. Usually they pick someone out of the crowd and attempt to mimic their behaviours and you’re hoping they don’t focus on you.

The Greek word ‘mimos’ where we get the English word ‘mime’ means an imitator or an actor. Mimicry is the art of copying someone’s actions or behaviours. ‘Halak’ in Hebrew means to walk or to follow in God’s ways. The Bible tells us that the children of Israel knew the acts of God but Moses knew the ways of God. So when Apostle Paul talks about imitation in these verses, he is referring directly to the conduct of a person that should be followed.

The idea being communicated was to model your life after godly examples and walk in the footsteps of someone that is worth emulating. Paul says in essence ‘imitate me because I’m imitating Christ’. Now when we read the gospels we see the way Jesus was in a myriad of different situations and what His responses were to what was happening around Him.

It even tells us to observe Jesus example and follow in His footsteps. Having said that, Paul told us to imitate Christ, God and the Lord. He never said Jesus even though He is all three. In the gospels it was Jesus the Christ. After the resurrection it was the exalted Jesus. Christ was used in the epistles in reference to the Holy Spirit.

‘Christos’ in Greek means anointed by the Spirit or the anointed One and His anointing. Paul was also saying that He was walking in step with Christ who is the Holy Spirit. Think about this for a moment. Jesus when He walked the earth said ‘I only do what I see my Father doing and I only say what I hear my Father speaking.’ What was He doing? Imitating His Father. Who was His Father? The Holy Spirit.

When Jesus said if a man loves me and keeps my Word my Father will love Him and WE will make our home in him. So who is the Holy Spirit after the resurrection and ascension? The Father and the Son. Then what happens when a man is born of the Spirit? He is joined to the Lord and made one Spirit. With who? The Father and the Son.

This shows us that the common denominator is the Holy Spirit who is Christ and that Christ is more than Jesus. So when Paul was saying imitate Christ, God and the Lord it all means the same thing. So if anyone is going to imitate Christ it has to be by following the Spirit. I hope you caught my flow.

‘that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.’ 2 Corinthians 5:19

Christ here is referring to Jesus the Christ however this shows that Christ and God are one and the same. Jesus is also referred to as the ‘Son of God’ which means God in human flesh. ‘Immanuel’ means God has come down as a man and is living amongst us. This is further evidence that Jesus is God. The term ‘Lord’ additionally is the Greek word ‘kyrios’ which means ‘master’.

The Word that became flesh and dwelt among us is now Spirit. ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.’ What are we to look for as someone to imitate? The Bible is clear. A man of the Word and the Spirit who is following in the footsteps of Christ in character and conduct. Remember all these things in our lives we don’t need to strive for; they are the by products of His grace.

APPLICATION

Make a decision to follow godly role models that will enrich your relationship with the Lord, that know the Word of God and can rightly divide and demonstrate the truth.