Learning by Imitating

 

Learning by Imitating

 

¹ Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.  (! Corinthians 11:1 ESV®)

   I can remember my family bringing home a new puppy, Tuffy, we had purchased at a mall. This was the first puppy we had brought into our home from a national chain pet store. He was a little wild since he had been spending much of his life in a cage and he was terrified by some of the normal household activity. The other dog, Fluffy, had been part of our family for about 10 years. She just melted into our family life.

   Tuffy was not too interested in the people in his new family but he followed Fluffy everyway she went. This was not to Fluffy’s liking. Being trained by humans was not going well with Tuffy but he would try to do whatever his idol would do. It was fun to watch since there was considerable difference in their size and coordination. Between my daughter, his favorite person, and Fluffy his idol he ended up blending in our family life.

   While I was thinking about Tuffy trying to imitate Fluffy it brought up memories of some of the people that I imitated to bring me closer to the Jesus of the Bible. My Anut Anna was a polio survivor. She spent much of her life in a wheelchair or on crutches. My memory is that she was always concerned and helping others, never focusing on her condition. The other thing I remember, she was very openly a Bible believer in Jesus. When I got my driver license, I became her chauffer. This was a way God exposed me to what and how a follower of Jesus looks like. These times of service to my aunt was a period of growth in my Christian faith. Trying to be like her has remained a goal in my life since I could see Jesus through her.

   I had other Christian mentors in my life who helped me to stay on the path of loving Jesus and the people he has brought into my life. If you don’t have someone to imitate look around you. God brings people to you because he loves you. Still, no one to imitate, try looking around the church. Final idea, you can be someone else’s mentor.

     May you delight in the Lord and be an imitator of the Saints that went before you.

 

 

                                      Wess Mechler, P.H.D.  (Past Having Doubts)

                                      Jesus is Alive!

 

ESV® - The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.