Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 27 June 2024, Thursday Message
TOPIC: Imitate Who?
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)
I just got off the phone with my friend Bunny. We haven’t seen each other in ages, but I said, “Bun, you wouldn’t believe how often I think about you. For instance, I get into a situation and I say to myself, Lord, what would Bunny do? What would she say to this person?” I could tell she was blushing, so I quickly added, “Oh, I’m not imitating your holiness. Just how you get there!”
This is what today’s verse is all about. The apostle Paul’s comment to the Corinthians could be construed as self-deifying. He sounds almost presumptuous. Is he comparing himself to Christ? No, Paul is not asking us to imitate his righteousness, for there is only one that is holy, and he is the Lord.
Paul is asking us to imitate the choices he makes, to model his discernments and his response to certain people and situations. Paul knew that his fellow Christians would soon find themselves facing the sort of persecution he was already experiencing. As their spiritual father, he wanted them to ask themselves, What would Paul do if he were facing this mob? What would he say to my accusers?
We imitate the methods and manners of the Christians who serve as our examples. The Christlikeness, the holiness and righteousness will then be added. God wants us to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12, NKJV).
Who is looking up to you as an example? A child? A grandchild? A fellow student? Your neighbor or coworker? The new woman at church? If you are growing in Christ, know this: somebody is watching and learning. Somebody is thinking of you, What would he do? What would she say? How can you be an example? Read 1 Timothy 4:12 again, and go out and live it in sight of others.
PRAY: Lord, maybe it’s best that I don’t know who’s watching and learning from me. All I need to know is that I want to imitate you. As I do, others will observe how I do it and be inspired to live the same way. May I be responsible today to this high calling.
Joni Eareckson Tada is an American evangelical Christian author, radio host, artist, and founder of Joni and Friends, an organization “accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community”