I enjoy sports, particularly American football. While I may not be the type of fan who memorizes every player’s stats, I can still recall the childhood thrill of imagining myself as my favorite athlete. Many of us grew up wearing the jerseys and buying the paraphernalia of our heroes, pretending to be the one who won the game. Today, children still imitate their favorite athletes or superheroes, donning their gear to save the world. This natural inclination to emulate others mirrors a central part of the Christian life: imitating Christ. Who did you want to be like growing up, and more importantly, who are you trying to be like today?
LIFE IS IMITATION
The apostle Paul reminds us that there is a time to put away childish things (1 Cor. 13:11); however, imitation is not one of those things. Life is inherently a process of imitation. We are all following someone’s lead, which is why social media influencers have become so prominent. They recognize our desire to emulate others and hope to influence our choices in fashion, cosmetics, or lifestyle. The Christian walk follows a similar pattern of imitation, making it vital to ask ourselves: Who am I imitating?
Paul urges us to imitate him and those who follow his pattern of life (Phil. 3:17). Before giving this charge, he explains that he lives like a runner competing to win a race. He refuses to be distracted by what is behind him—whether past sins or previous accomplishments—and instead reaches forward toward the finish line. His goal is the resurrection, where he will finally be fully conformed to the divine image (Phil. 3:13–14). Paul notes that all mature believers should share this mindset (Phil. 3:15). These mature believers can serve as mentors for Christian discipleship, guiding others in embodied hospitality and mission.
For this reason, Paul invites us to imitate him as he runs the race with a focus on the last day. Paul had already put before the Philippians examples to follow. Jesus, of course, is the perfect and true example (Phil. 2:5–11). He selflessly gave up his heavenly privileges and glory (not his divine attributes) to take on our humanity. As the God-man, he humbly became a slave and obediently went to his death on the cross in the place of sinners. It is Jesus’ selfless, humble, obedient example, in the power of his resurrection, that we are all to follow (Phil. 3:10). This is the example that Paul followed as he ran the race with undistracted focus. But Paul’s is not the only example we are to follow. Both Timothy and Epaphroditus displayed the mindset of Christ (Phil. 2:19–30). We are to imitate the example of all Christians who run with a heavenly mindset (Phil. 3:17).
WHO ARE YOU IMITATING?
So, who are you imitating? One way to answer that question is to ask, Who do I sound like, look like, act like? Imitate those who run the race of the Christian life with their minds set on the things above (Col. 3:1–4). Whom should you imitate? Your pastors, for one (Heb. 13:7). The Risen Christ has given the church pastors who provide examples of how to live in this world (1 Peter 5:1–5). Pastors, live your lives in such a way that the church may follow your example in singleness (if not married), in marriage, parenting, in holiness, in evangelism, in discipleship, in speech, in conduct, in doctrine, in faith. Our lives as pastors should be imitable.
Also, imitate other Christians who are running like Paul—with a view to the finish line and the resurrection. What Christians do you know who live with an eternal perspective—in their relationships, in their parenting, in the way they handle money and possessions, in the way they approach their education, vocation, in the way they approach their earthly citizenship including politics, in the way they share the gospel with unbelievers, in the way they disciple and encourage believers to run with endurance until they cross the finish line? Get to know them, build relationships with them and imitate them.
But don’t just be an imitator. Become the kind of Christian that others can imitate. Ask yourself, “What if everyone at our church were just like me?” Would that be a good thing? If the answer is no, then, perhaps, you need to confess sin, reconcile certain relationships and receive the gracious forgiveness that comes through Christ. Then find Christians to imitate that will lead you to look more like Jesus, that you may become an imitable example to others, because the Christian life is a life of imitation.
This article originally appeared on LifeWayVoices.com and is reposted here by permission.