LEARNING DAILY

1 Corinthians 11:1, And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. (New Living Translation)

To best understand this verse, it should be read as a conclusion to what Paul has written in chapter 10. Remember that in the original writing there were no chapter divisions and verses were not numbered. In chapter 10, Paul has written about battling temptation, fleeing idolatry, doing all one does to the glory of God, and building up one another to strengthen the church. In order to do that Paul had to set aside personal rights, freedoms, and personal preferences to do that. “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:32-33).

Believers are not to act in any way that would cause other Believers (especially new Believers and those who are still growing spiritually) to stumble, spiritually. Paul was saying he tried to please others in a spiritual sense, not necessarily for their happiness. His goal was to lead as many possible to Christ, and often that meant he gave up his personal wants and freedoms to do that. He wrote something similar at the end of chapter 9 when he wrote he varied his behavior depending on who he was talking to. He became a Jew when talking to Jews. When he was talking to Gentiles he acted as someone who was not under the law. Did that make him a hypocrite? No, he changed his tactics and chose to not exercise certain liberties or freedoms he had in order to minister in the most effective way to those he was talking to. His desire for the Corinthians to do this also should resonate with Believers today as they share the gospel with others.

To imitate Paul, one has to imitate Christ. To do that Believers, disciples, must carefully examine the life of Christ, His Word, and those lives who faithfully have served Him. To imitate someone, that someone must be studied in order to “copy” the way he/she acts. The next step is to do everything you can to do as Jesus Christ did! For every Believer, every disciple of Jesus Christ, your freedom in Him is not to do whatever you want but a call to follow Him as he walked on this earth. This requires constant study and application of the words and the life of Jesus Christ.

Those Jesus chose to walk with Him, often did not understand what He was teaching them. They would not fully understand until after His death and resurrection. Believers today are fortunate that they have God’s word to study and be their guide. Again, it is a choice to make time to study and then be obedient to it. Hebrews 6:11-12 warns Believers, “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Do not grow sluggish or be lazy about your study of God’s Word!

Walking the narrow way is about becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ, about imitating Him. it is about imitating His character, and as Believers do, they become more like Him. That is true freedom. Believers can also learn more about being His disciples by studying the lives of those He chose to follow Him as He walked on earth.

Take a few minutes to read through a few more verses to encourage you in studying God’s Word – Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:14-16; Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 John 4:17).