1 Corinthians 11:1: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

May 22nd, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Paul calls us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. It seems like such a simple idea when we first read this verse, but it has many layers. Imitation is an important concept taught in several places in the New Testament. We are told to imitate Christ, imitate mature believers, and to imitate faithful churches. We are also warned to be careful not to imitate evil, avoiding even the appearance of evil. We are counseled to shun evil companionship because it will corrupt good morals.

Paul was a leader and was calling believers everywhere to also become leaders. A leader is someone who knows where he is going and is able to take others with him. There are both good and bad leaders. A good leader takes others to a good place. Bad leaders also take others to a place, but it is not good. In Matthew 15:14 Jesus warned, “They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” God called Paul, and us, to intentionally be an example to others; the question is what kind of example are we being.

Whether we like it or not, someone is watching each and every one of us, and our lives are influencing them. Are we leading others closer to Jesus by what we say and do or farther away? I recently saw a bumper sticker on a car that said, “Follow me to So-and-So Church.” It made me want to ask the question, “If someone follows you, will they end up at Jesus Christ?”

“LORD, please cleanse us from our sins and keep us in the center of Your path today as we follow You.”