Imitate Christ and the World Will Imitate You

Daily Devotional – Thursday, December 30, 2021

You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (Contemporary English Version)

When Jesus began His ministry, He needed a team to work with. When He found Peter, Andrew, James and John, He had one message, “Follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19, NKJV). The four, “immediately … followed Him.” (Matthew 4:20, NKJV).

Jesus also called one of the most hated men of His day to follow Him. “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NKJV).

Soon, apart from the twelve, many other people followed Jesus. They were His disciples. They followed Jesus physically and spiritually. Every day, they learned from the best Teacher. Christ was preparing them for the work of the kingdom.

Imitating the Teacher, Preacher and Healer

After a period of apprenticeship under the Lord, the twelve needed a practical experience. Jesus sent them out to, “preach… heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” (Matthew 10:7-8, NKJV).

In addition, “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” (Luke 10:1, NKJV). They had followed Jesus. Now it was their turn to call others to follow the Lord.

Imitating the Character of Jesus

When Jesus ascended to heaven, those who believed did not have the benefit of meeting Him physically. They relied on the first believers to know the character and teachings of Jesus.

For effective evangelism, the first and new believers needed to model the character of the departed Jesus. Paul did not meet Jesus personally. Apart from encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul relied on the early disciples to know more about Jesus.

Writing to the church in Corinth, He said, “You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, Contemporary English Version).

The New King James Version renders this verse, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” The only way Paul could be a role model to the Corinthians is if he was an imitator of Christ.

Christians are Imitators of Christ

Christians are, by definition, followers of Christ and His teachings. However, God calls us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22, NKJV). We are to imitate or follow the example of Christ in our lives.

In our attitudes, speech and conduct, the world must see Christ. Here is a good example of the transforming power of Jesus:

 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NKJV).

When we allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to restore, gradually, the character of God in us, those we interact with will say, “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” (Revelation 14:4, NKJV). Then we will confidently tell others to imitate us.

Lord Jesus, help me to model You so well that those around me will imitate me.