Imitators

Imitators

(1 Cor 4:16 NASB) I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.

(1 Cor 11:1 NASB) Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

(Eph 5:1 NASB) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

(1 Th 1:6 NASB) You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

(1 Th 2:14 NASB) For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,

(Heb 6:12 NASB) that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

(Heb 13:7 NASB) Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

(3 John 1:11 NASB) Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

Who are you imitating in your life?

I find it interesting that there are few original people in the world. We are people who live according to the influences that we allow to come into our hearts and minds and particularly of those we admire and appreciate.

Big bird on sesame street, sang, Monkey see and monkey do about being an imitator of his friends to get on their nerves. When your friends are ignoring you here’s what to do. Sneak right up behind them anywhere that you can find them then play monkey see and monkey do.

It is obvious when our kids are young that you have to be careful what you say around them because you will hear it again. Kids look at what their parents are doing and imitate that far more than they imitate what they are told to do.

Even Jesus or Lord, when he was in the form of a servant here on earth said, John 5:

19 Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel.

21 "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

23 in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live.

26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice,

29 and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

30 "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Jesus is telling us that he is doing what he sees the Father doing. This is imitation! We are to do the same!

Be imitators of God as dearly loved children. Eph 5:1.

All of us are a product, in part of those we chose to imitate. God knows we are like this. We have a natural built in system that imitates. That’s how we learn to talk and do nearly everything we do. It’s not the only factor in our nature, but it is an important one. God actually commands us to use this inborn system of learning to grow in Christ.

Imitate Christ, imitate mature Christians, imitate God, imitate faithful churches. All of these are either commanded or condoned in the scriptures. Do not imitate evil. Avoid the very appearance of evil. Evil companionship corrupts good morals.