Following godly Examples Part II
Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. {Phil 3:17 NLT}
Growing in the faith requires that a believer keeps on pressing forward through the power of the Holy Spirit, bearing in mind that Christ will always reveal and fill any discrepancy between what you’re now and what you should actually become. Our scriptural focus for today states – Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. In Apostle Paul’s quest to build a church that is a true reflection of the person and character of Jesus Christ, he encouraged the Philippian church to follow not just his example alone but to equally learn from those who have become a reference point by following the examples of the Apostles.
As at this time, the New testament that laid the foundation for the gospel of grace was not yet in print nor was it in circulation, so Apostle Paul could not encourage them to read the Bible to see and understand who Christ was. That he referred them to learn from him and other members of his team spoke volumes. It suggests that Apostle has laboured over the lives of his other team members that he can bold point to them as people in whose lives other believers can find the examples of Christlikeness.
Christianity as Christ intended, isn’t about one human becoming the champion that every other person must learn from, its also not about the pastor/leader as the only approved example that everybody must follow in the church to be like Christ. The church should be filled with people whose lives can exemplify Christ to others. Please consider this – What kind of follower would a young believer or an unbeliever become if they imitated your lifestyle?
Christianity is about standing on the shoulders of others to succeed.
Have a Grace filled day – Good News awaits you.
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Last modified: March 2, 2016
