Week 6: Imitate
Last week we looked at two passages that showed how we are to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. We looked at what His attitude looks like in Philippians 2:5-8 and then we looked at how Paul modeled the attitude of Christ in Philippians 3:7-9. What becomes clear from these passages is that the way we have the same attitude or mind as Christ is to imitate Him and to imitate those who imitate Him.
Jesus gave us clues to the need to imitate His life throughout the gospels:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24
Jesus is very clear about the cost of following Him. It requires a life of discipleship, where we cease to make ourself the object of our life and actions, instead becoming totally committed to Christ and to His way of life. The cross is the symbol of total commitment to Christ for us. When we "take up our cross" we imitate Christ who denied His own rights for our sake and who made himself nothing. (Philippians 2:6-7). We sacrifice our rights in order to serve others as Christ did. This is the cost of discipleship.
"Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:38
"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24
"Take my Yoke upon you and learn feom me..." Matthew 11:29
Jesus was clear that following Him meant imitating Him.
Paul, then, took the words of Jesus to heart, and continued His message in his writings.
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
"Therefore I urge you to imitate me." 1 Corinthians 4:16
"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9
"You became imitators of us and of the Lord..." 1 Thessalonians 1:6
"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
The way of imitating Christ is to love and to sacrifice through service to others.
Peter and John take up the same call in their writings:
"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." 1 Peter 2:21
"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6
My art for today is something I actually made back in September for a different post (check it out here.) but it fit so well here that I didn't see a reason to make a new page.
My focus this year in being "Formed By the Word" is to explore what the Bible says about spiritual formation in Christ. More and more as I study, I'm struck by how much our spiritual formation in Christ is focused on how we view and serve and relate to others. A thread we will need to continue to explore.
I would love to have you to join me in being formed by the Word this year. After reading the above post, do some study on your own. Dig deeper into the verses and passages mentioned and then respond creatively. Share your thoughts and creative responses in the comment section below or on social media with #formedby theword and #wordsartandfaithgroup, and in our private Facebook group for words challenges the Words Art and Faith group.
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