I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
“Imitation Masters” are typically considered a cut below the real thing. They are fun to watch though, Beatles cover bands, Elvis look-alikes, impersonators of the rich, powerful, and famous are all valued for their skills. They do not, however, have anything from the real person to offer of value.
When Paul says for the Corinthians to imitate him, it has a bigger meaning than to: a) talk with a cool Apostle Paul accent, b) walk with a hip Apostle Paul swagger, or c) pretend to do the work he did (preaching, healing, and discipleship) without a heart that is in it.
He wants them to imitate Jesus Christ in him. He is looking for them to use him as a model for what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ. Timothy has done this with Paul, and is now a good model himself of Christlike living.
The fundamental difference between imitating other people and being like Jesus, is this: when we decide to follow Jesus an all-out 100% way, he sends his Holy Spirit into our hearts. We then have “God in us”. Not around us or beside us or living in heaven out of sight out of mind; no, he is IN US.
What Paul asks is very doable. Not because we are able, but because the Spirit of God in us enables us to live like Jesus. It takes a lot of hard work and effort and intentionality, but when we spend time with God every day and invite his Spirit to have reign over our days and our lives … amazing things begin to happen.
The chains fall off, the bondage brakes, and our old habits become a thing of the past. The Spirit of God is a powerful source in our hearts. And he transforms us into elite Christ followers, people who live on mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and live as Jesus lived.
Who am I imitating today? Who do I look up to in this world? Is Jesus at the top of that list? If so, have I done my best to figure out how to imitate him? Do I have mentors in my life who can hold me accountable and call me to greatness?
Lord, thank you for this passage that encourages not only the Corinthians, but also me, to follow you with my whole heart and imitate how you lived. Teach me to cast aside those leaders in the world that lead me astray. Help me keep my focus on you and those mentors you put in my life to lead me to you.
