Mimicking Christ
Calvin Coolidge (the 30th president of the USA) invited some friends to dine with him at the White House. But they did not know the protocol or how to conduct themselves at such an occasion. So they thought the best way would be to copy what he would do.
Coolidge poured his coffee into a saucer. When they saw it, they mimicked him. Then he poured some milk and added sugar to the coffee in the saucer. So, they did the same also. They assumed that he would drink the coffee from the saucer. To their surprise, he did not do so. He leaned over to place the saucer on the floor for his cat. (From the illustration database of the Biblical Studies Foundation)
Coolidge’s guests need not mimic him. But, on the other hand, we are to do just that. After washing the feet of the disciples, the Lord Jesus told His disciples: “I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do.” (John 13:15, The Message) The Apostle Paul gave this command also to the believers, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NET Bible) We got the word “mimic” from the Greek word for “imitators.” We are to mimic or imitate the Lord Jesus.
Imitating a person’s life is better caught than taught. That is, we tend to copy someone we spend time with. In fact, we find that that’s one of Jesus’ purposes for calling the Twelve: “that they might be with him” (Mark 3:14, NIV). The Bible described the impact of an “up close and personal” encounter with Jesus. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NIV) So, we really need to study the life of Christ in the Gospels to glean insights on how He lived here on earth. That shows also the need for us to model the life of Christ. We are His body now.
Brethren, let us mimic Christ!
Coolidge poured his coffee into a saucer. When they saw it, they mimicked him. Then he poured some milk and added sugar to the coffee in the saucer. So, they did the same also. They assumed that he would drink the coffee from the saucer. To their surprise, he did not do so. He leaned over to place the saucer on the floor for his cat. (From the illustration database of the Biblical Studies Foundation)
Coolidge’s guests need not mimic him. But, on the other hand, we are to do just that. After washing the feet of the disciples, the Lord Jesus told His disciples: “I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do.” (John 13:15, The Message) The Apostle Paul gave this command also to the believers, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NET Bible) We got the word “mimic” from the Greek word for “imitators.” We are to mimic or imitate the Lord Jesus.
Imitating a person’s life is better caught than taught. That is, we tend to copy someone we spend time with. In fact, we find that that’s one of Jesus’ purposes for calling the Twelve: “that they might be with him” (Mark 3:14, NIV). The Bible described the impact of an “up close and personal” encounter with Jesus. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NIV) So, we really need to study the life of Christ in the Gospels to glean insights on how He lived here on earth. That shows also the need for us to model the life of Christ. We are His body now.
Brethren, let us mimic Christ!
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