Imitation

Imitation is a big part of our lives from the beginning to the end. As children, we imitate our friends, our teachers, and especially our parents. As we grow into adults, many of us take on more of a personal identity, yet we still imitate the actions and characteristics of others from time to time. We tend to imitate those with whom we spend the most time; sometimes without even realizing it. This is why it’s so crucial that we spend as much time with other Christians as we can. The Bible speaks a great deal about imitating others. To imitate someone is to pattern yourself after them. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). It’s good to pattern your life after faithful Christians. “...but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise” (Heb. 6:12). It is always good to imitate the good in others, and always bad to imitate the bad in others! Sadly, sometimes we do both. But John wrote, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good...” (3 Jn. 11). The most important source to imitate is God! “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” (Eph. 5:1). This is done simply by reading and studying His word, then applying it in our lives. What kind of people, actions, characteristics, and things do you imitate? Good or evil?