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2/24 Reading Portions: Exodus 7; Luke 10; Job 24; 1 Corinthians 11
Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
MIMIC
Some of the best commentators of Scripture, John Gill, Matthew Poole, and Matthew Henry, will tell you this verse would be more correctly placed at the close to the previous chapter than at the opening to chapter 11. I agree.
The apostle says to glorify God in all we do (1 Cor 10:31). Moreover, he said he did all for the profit of others, not for himself (1 Cor 10:32-33). Finally, he adds that we should follow his example, just as he was following Christ’s example (1 Cor 11:1). The word “imitate” (followers in KJV) is the Greek word μιμηταί (mi-mǣ-TAI). Its root is where we get our English word mimic. Paul was saying, “Look, I glorify God in all I do— as much as a sinner saved by grace is able— because Christ, the perfect Man, glorified God in all He did. Moreover, I am crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20) for the benefit of others, because that’s what our Lord did— He went to the cross for the Father’s glory and the salvation of others. Therefore, follow my example, just as I mimic Christ.”
Today, we are sadly lacking in men who will be imitators of Christ so others can see a visible witness of the power of the cross to change sinners’ lives. Jesus said,
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Luke 10:2
As spiritual children, we do indeed learn from our spiritual fathers. Oh, that Christ would raise pastors, teachers, and preachers as imitators of Christ so congregations may be encouraged by their example. Oh, that the Lord of the Harvest would raise fathers in our homes as imitators of Christ so our children would see God’s grace through everyday tasks for the glory of our heavenly Father. Oh, that our blessed Savior would raise older brothers who could take his siblings by the hand and say, “Follow me in the old path where the gate is straight and the way is narrow but the end is glory everlasting!”
My prayer as a pastor is:
May we pastors imitate Christ;
At times we fail to see all’s His,
Bought by His blood and sacrifice.
‘Tis true, there’s evil all around—
Evidence we don’t always show
Our lives have changed, for grace abounds.
T’the humble wretch who loves Christ so.
