Think back to when you were younger. I'm sure you played a game called "Simon Says". Playing with one Simon is usually pretty easy until Simon starts giving commands quicker and quicker but even then it is still pretty easy.
Imagine you're playing Simon Says but now there are two Simons giving commands. Now you have two people to listen to, two sets of commands given and sometimes at the same time. Maybe one Simon tells you to do something and the other says the opposite. Suddenly it gets a little harder to pay attention and follow the commands.
Now imagine you're still playing and back to one Simon. This time though two fools show up. These fools are trying their hardest to distract you. Maybe they're giving their own commands or threatening you or trying to get you to do something that sounds better than what Simon says to do. At times you may be confused and stressed out and find it hard to hear Simon's voice.
Just as we are to imitate Simon in the game so are we to imitate Christ in our lives. The Bible does not just tell us to imitate Christ, we are also instructed to imitate those who have lived and currently live in the faith.
Are these instructions to imitate Christ and those who lived in the faith easy? Maybe at times when we are surrounded by fellow believers and separated from distractions. In school, at work, around town, with friends, moving away from home, when you see and experience pressures unimaginable then imitating Christ might get a little tougher. When we are pressured, threatened, or treated unfairly, how clearly does that one voice stand out? This time it isn't Simon's voice we're listening to but Christ's.
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11
The call is pretty clear in 3 John - imitate what is good and not what is evil. This seems fairly simple, right? If it isn't right, then it isn't of God and we shouldn't do it. So why do we do what is evil? When are you the most vulnerable to do evil? Are there any ways in which you can change those situations and times so that you imitate Christ instead?
In order to imitate Christ we need to know His ways and His Word. If we give up God's Word, studying His Word, nurturing our faith, we are apt to imitate evil.
Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children. Ephesians 5:1
Here we have it very, very clearly to follow God's example. Not only that but we are dearly loved children! Think back to day 1 (Faith), we are born of God. Since we are born of God, we love by following His commands and His teachings. That is how we show others we are God's children and how we overcome the world. Through God we have victory! Why would we want to imitate anything or anyone else? If we do imitate something other than God, what is the result? Not heaven. We have been given the ultimate example of serving, of loving, of humility and we must imitate Him.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:6
For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews. 1 Thessalonians 2:14
In this passage Paul is writing a letter to the church in Thessalonica. Paul mentions how the Thessalonians became imitators of him, Silas, and Timothy while they were preaching to them. After Paul left, he wrote this letter to those new to the faith, new converts. The letters were encouragement for them during their trials and hardships. So also can the letters to the Thessalonians be encouragement for us when we are going through our own sufferings for Christ.
Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 1 Corinthians 4:16
Yet again Paul is telling people to imitate him. Buy why? Because Paul is a messenger of God and as a messenger of God, he points people to God. By imitating Paul we can essentially imitate God. So let's be like Paul!
Are you living your life the way Paul lived his? Could you share the Word and message of Christ and tell people to imitate you? Is your life at that point? Or would your words not align with your actions and way of life? Our words should speak of a strong, unshakable faith that points to and glorifies God. Our actions should echo our words and our faith and glorify Christ.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7
Here we read of more encouragement to imitate those who have lived the faith. Now it seems a little more realistic to imitate as Paul is telling us to imitate our faithful leaders. A little easier to imitate someone we know, someone we can see and talk to and remember. Who in your life has lived a life full of faith that you want to imitate? Why do you want to imitate this person? Think about them and how they live their life.
I pray each day you will wake up and strive to be like Christ. Try to imitate that person you just thought of because by imitating them you are striving to imitate Christ.
The world is a dark, sinful place and we are called to be the light of Christ and let our light shine. Imitate Christ, let your light shine in this dark world. The world needs your light.
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