Follow Me As I Follow Christ
We learn by watching others. We watch fitness instructors at the gym, YouTube car repair videos, and TikTok makeup tips, and then we attempt to put what we learned into practice. Similarly, our kids, friends, and co-workers imitate us and learn from us, whether or not we realize it. (Think about the times you went to a movie or tried a restaurant because a friend mentioned it.)
Just as teens purposely imitate TikTok dances, the Apostle Paul frequently challenged us as believers to be careful in who we follow in our Christian walk. Some people will lead us to be more like Christ, and others will lead us on a path to destruction. He knew that we are inclined to learn from watching each other and he wanted to make sure we were wise in who we imitate. We need to seek out role models, friends, and mentors who will point us to Jesus. Choosing to follow good role models and being wary of bad influences will lead to blessings in our lives and bless the people around us.
Beware of wrong influencers.
Just like there are bad dancers and cooks, not everyone is a good influence on your spiritual growth. Unfortunately, there are many enemies of Christ who seek to influence us away from doing things God's way. Paul described them in Philippians 3:19, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
So let’s recap this! Enemies of Jesus behave these four ways…
Their end is destruction. They are intentional to destroy relationships, create chaos and ruin lives. Much of their life is wasted in pursuit of short-term thrills and material success.
Their God is their belly. They are motivated and driven by what makes them feel good. They elevate their cravings over God's word. Their desires and appetites control how they spend their time, money, and attention.
They glory in their shame. Enemies of the cross of Christ delight in a distorted sense of right and wrong. They celebrate ungodly behaviors and immoral life choices, and shame others for being narrow-minded. They actively recruit others to join them in hedonistic, self-seeking, indulgent, and destructive behavior.
Their minds are set on earthly things. They are focused on temporal, worldly things rather than the eternal things of God. They have a materialistic, mundane focus.
It is vital to be careful around such people. Following them will lead us away from Christ and limit the blessings God has for us that come from following him every day.
We need to imitate the right influencers.
Instead of following the wrong people, Paul encouraged believers to imitate him, not because he was perfect, but because he was seeking to be more like Christ. He put it simply in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow me as I follow Christ." In Philippians 3:11, he wrote, "Join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."
Paul was willing to be watched and judged in his walk as a Christian. Similarly, we should be ready to share what we have learned about Christ with others… just like teenagers help their friends with dance moves and bakers share cooking tips. We also need to remember that the people around us are watching and learning from us. In light of this, we should live to share and showcase the most important thing, Jesus Christ.
We won’t be perfect, but we can still help others grow and learn. Participating in a home group, leading Sunday School, and sharing our personal faith journeys at work are great places to start. Then we’ll be able to say to our kids, co-workers, and friends, "Follow me as I follow Christ."
Every believer is a living testimony of God's grace and a role model for the people around us.
Let's start acting like one!
~ Penny Noyes, M.Ed. just released her fourth book Seeing Value A Biblical Perspective on Intrinsic Value on Amazon. She also writes for Christianity.com, GracefullyTruthful.com and her blog. She is a wife to Tom, mom to Chris and John, step-mom to Hillary and Jeremy (son-in-law) and a mimi to the cutest grandkids ever.