Joel M Bradshaw

1And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.–1 Corinthians 11

This was finishing Paul’s point. You’ll recognize my favorite verse in there again. I wrote about it yesterday.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)

The Corinthian Christians struggled with how to live their faith. So Paul told them to imitate him. I tell this to my children to help when we are in public. Do you see Daddy running around and making crazy noises in this crowd of people? No? The you shouldn’t either. Follow what I am doing. Of course, I need to be modeling the right behavior! That’s why Paul needed to imitate Christ. You and I need to do so, as well. Let’s ask 3 questions.

1. WHO ARE YOU IMITATING? You are being influenced by some person or group. Is that influence biblical? Does it cause you to give glory to God with your life? Would other say that your influencers are following Christ?
2. WHO IS IMITATING YOU? Your are influencing other people. Is your influence biblical? Are the ones following you giving glory to God with their lives? Are they now following Christ as they imitate you?
3. ARE YOU FOLLOWING CHRIST? This is the key question and is the chief goal of your life. It’s the way you most glorify God. It shows that the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. You will most easily see this by the fruit on your branches.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Christian influence should result in those being on your tree. When they are missing, you might be imitating the wrong person.–JMB