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Imitate Me

Nov 4, 2009 Print This Post

I have been working on my new series for Riv and I stumbled onto something I hadn’t noticed before. The Apostle Paul makes a similar comment in 6 places in the New Testament. Check this out:

“I urge you to imitate me.” – 1 Corinthians 4:16

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

“Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine…” – Philippians 3:17

“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.” – Phillipians 4:9

“For you know that you ought to imitate us.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:7

“But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.” – 2 Timothy 3:10

“Imitate me…pattern your life after mine.” Could you say this in good conscience? Paul (the self-proclaimed Chief of All Sinners) could say it. If you couldn’t say that, what in your life needs to change so you can lead others and tell them to live the way you live?

UPDATE: I found yet another example from Paul: “Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”