How many of us have played the game, Follow the Leader? It’s a simple game where one person plays the ‘leader’ and all the other participants have to ‘follow’ wherever and whatever the leader does; walk where they walk, walk HOW they walk, or run or crawl or hop. The game is fun if you have a leader who makes it interesting and fun for others to follow them. If they simply walk in a straight line, the followers quickly get bored, and may even choose not to play anymore. Or, they may ask for someone else to be the leader instead.
But, if there are lots of different things going on, and the followers have to keep up with all that the leader is doing, it’s much more interesting, and much more fun. Others sitting on the sidelines may even choose to join in the game.
As we continue in our walk through Paul’s letter to the Christians in Philippi, we’re going to see a little bit of ‘follow the leader’ in his closing remarks to that church
17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
In verse 17, Paul exhorts us to join with others in following his example. How many ‘others’ were there; tens, hundred, maybe thousands of other believers were already following the example set by Paul. He is a great example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. A sign of a good or even great leader is that they lead by example. Paul shows us this through his life and the way he lived it.
He first made a complete turnaround in his lifestyle when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul had been on his there to round up Christians and arrest them and bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem when suddenly the Lord Jesus spoke to him about his persecuting ways. After Paul was obedient in following the Lord’s instructions, he was baptized; he sat under the disciples’ teaching about Christ, and then immediately began preaching that Jesus was the Son of God. He did a 180 - from persecuting Christ, to preaching Christ. He was changed from someone who watched as Christians died for their faith to one who would give his life for the Lord he loved and who loved him.
What about us? How has our life changed since being introduced to Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe? Can we say that we were once living completely for ourselves and now we live for the One who loves us? Are willing to live for God by showing His love to others, by not being caught up in the patterns of this world, by changing the way we think of others and by changing the way we treat each other. Will others see that change in us?
** I’d like to show you a sort music video to illustrate the power of example…
(Clip - Rodney Atkins, Watching You)
In society today, we are often led to follow the example of someone in order to gain what they have attained. It could be a commercial of someone driving a certain kind of car, and by driving that car, we could have a live like the person in the ad. Or maybe it’s an infomercial about an exercise product that will help us lose weight and have a body just like the actors we see on TV. Or maybe if we wear that certain designer outfit, or drink that brand of beer, or buy that special limited time offer, our lives will be changed from what we have now into whatever it is the creators of those ads want us to THINK we could be like in life. But are they true? Are they legitimate examples of life at its best?
Paul also states that we should follow his example in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV). You see, it’s not Paul bragging so much about what we should see in him as much as WHO we should see in him. The example is Christ; Paul’s example was Christ, and our example is Christ.
John 13:14-16 (New International Version)
14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Jesus came as the servant-leader. In this passage, Jesus humbled Himself by washing the feet of all of the disciples, a job for the lowest servant of the house. How humiliating it must have been. But think a little further to the fact that the Almighty Creator of the Universe had humbled himself by becoming a man, obedient to death, on a cross no less. How humbling was that? How far are we willing to humble ourselves in order to serve others? We have the example of Christ, now what can we do; what WILL we do?
If we were to find ourselves speaking to someone about Jesus, would we, in our testimony to them say something like, ‘if you want to see Jesus, then just watch me and follow my example.’?? That’s a pretty strong statement don’t you think? But this is what Paul is saying when he encourages the church to ‘follow his example’. Why, because he is living his life for Christ. As long as he or I or you are following the example of Christ and living our lives for his purposes, we are setting a good example to others of what it is to BE a Christian.
Philippians 3:17 (Contemporary English Version)
17My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you.
I like this translation as it points out that Paul is not the only example to look to, but that we also learn from others in the faith. We are to lead and teach others who are new in the faith what it means to live for Jesus. And we do that best by example. Who can we SHOW Jesus to today?
And don’t think that you are too young, either physically or spiritually to show Jesus in the way you live. Listen to what Paul says in 1 Timothy…
1 Timothy 4:12 (New International Version)
12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
The way we live for Christ and exemplify that is our lives is powerful. And as powerful a testimony as that is, and the great potential it is in winning souls for the Lord, we can also do great damage by our testimony if we live in contradiction to what we say we believe.
Read verses 18-19 again:
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
Paul is of course speaking of non-believers here; people who live with the purpose of tearing down the testimony of Christ, His cross, the church, and all those who have put their faith in the Way, the Truth and the Life. Paul does not mince words when he says that those people are on a highway to hell, they are destined for destruction. Their purpose in life is not to be sure to be filled with the Spirit of the Living God, but to make sure that their tummy is satisfied and their appetite is not for spiritual things simply is focussed on their next meal. And to make themselves look good, they try to play on the pity of others by saying things like, o woe is me, look at how little I have in life compared to so and so…poor me.
Their minds are on earthly things. It is what consumes their thoughts. They see it, they want it, they’ll do whatever to get it, no matter what it takes. Well, it might just take their soul!
In the book of Colossians we read this: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col.3:1-2)
And in the very next chapter in Philippians we read: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.(Phil.4:8)
What we think about, what we dwell on, what we find ourselves dreaming about…these can become the driving forces behind our actions. Proverbs 23:7, as he thinks in his heart, so is he (NKJV) Our thoughts most definitely can influence how we act. And out thoughts are easily influenced by the world and all it’s temptations, and also by the tempter, Satan, who will try to make us think that we are anything less than what we as Christ-followers are…citizens of Heaven!
He is jealous of this because he lost his citizenship there. He doesn’t have a permanent address in the kingdom of God any longer. He’s stuck here on earth for now with nothing but a one-way ticket to the Lake of Fire. And his goal is to take as many on that train with him. Oh, he will make it look and sound like a lot of fun getting off-track from what God has called us to. ‘Oh, just try this for a little while, what could it hurt?’ and other lies. Don’t listen!
Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version)2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If we are going to play follow the leader in this life, we had better be sure we are following the RIGHT leader, Jesus. Anyone else could and will lead us away from where God would love to have all of us arrive in the end…in His arms. Will you follow, will you today?
