Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 12
Tuesday


READ:
1 Corinthians 4:9-17
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Imatitate me, just as I
also imitate Christ.
__1 Corinthians 11:1
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Andrew Marton recalls the first time he met his future brother-in-law Peter Jennings, who was a top foreign news correspondent in 1977. He said he was so nervous that he acted like "a jittery fan in the presence of a journalistic hero whose personal wattage could light up Manhattan."

Andrew looked up to Peter and tried to emulate him. He became a journalist too and approached his assignments the way Peter did--"he dove in and worked harder than everybody else." Andrew tried to walk like Peter, to dress like him, and to have the same "aura."

We all tend to follow the patterns of others. The Corinthians did too. But they shifted their focus away from Christ and on to individual leaders. Rather than emulating the Christlike qualities of these leaders, they let their allegiances lead to various divisions and contentions in the church (1 Cor. 1:10-13). The apostle Paul recognized their error, so he sent Timothy to remind them of his teachings and the importance of walking in obedience to the Lord (4:16-17).

We are to imitate Christ (1 Peter 1:15-16). It can also be helpful to have mentors who imitate Him. Those who walk in step with Christ provide a model for us to emulate. But our ultiimate example is Jesus Himself. __Anne Cetas
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Imitate those who imitate Christ.

************Today's Bible Reading____1 Corinthians 4:9-17*********

9 For I think that God has
displayed us, the apostles,
last, as men condemned
to death; for we have been
made a spectacle to the
world, both to angels and
to men. 10 We are fools
for Christ's sake, but you
are wise in Christ! We are
weak, but you are strong!
You are distinguished, but
we are dishonored! 11 To the
present hour we both hunger
and thirst, and we are
poorly clothed, and beaten,
and homeless. 12 And we
labor, working with our own
hands. Being reviled, we
bless; being persecuted, we
endure. 13 Being defamed,
we entreat. We have been
made as the filth of the
world, the offscouring of all
things until now.

14 I do not write these
things to shame you, but
as my beloved children I
warn you. 15 For though you
might have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet you
do not have many fathers;
for in Christ Jesus I have
begotten you through the
gospel. 16 Therefore I urge
you, imitate me. 17 For this
reason I have sent Timothy
to you, who is my beloved
and faithful son in the Lord,
who will remind you of my
ways in Christ, as I teach
everywhere in every church.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Originally, the Greek word mimeomai referred to imitating the behavior of another. According to Aristotle, at the beginning of civilization, men learned skills by imitating other living creatures, i.e., spinning from spiders and house building from swallows. In the New Testament, Paul uses this word to exhort other Christians to follow godly examples (l Cor. 11:1). Despite his own imperfectins, Paul wished to serve as a model of spiritual growth (Phil. 3:12-14). __HDF

__Adapted from The New International Dictiionary of New Testament Theology

[Mackenaw]

I like to dance like David. Woooooooohooooooo!

Thanks Cimi for posting this, it reminded me to dance.

God Bless you, Sister!

Sister Mack