“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV)
This statement by Paul comes at the end of a long list of detailed instructions for the believers in Corinth (1 Cor. 10:6-30) addressing everything from immoral living to whether they should eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. He summarizes the previous 25 verses in verse 31 with “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Paul could confidently say to those believers “Be ye followers of me…” because Paul followed Christ’s example, “… even as I also am [a follower] of Christ.”
Further, everything Christ said and everything He did during His earthly ministry was of the Father, from the Father, according to the will of the Father, and for the express purpose of glorifying the Father.
Listen to Christ’s words in John 12:44-45, 49-50:
And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me…For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore, the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
And in John 17:4 Christ addresses His Father, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You gave Me to do.”
Numerous biblical passages like John 10:30 affirm that Christ is equally God, “I and my Father are one.” And yet even Christ – God the Son – demonstrated by example that there is one purpose for everything we do… and that is simply to glorify God.
In Matthew 11:29 Christ says “learn of Me.” We should therefore study His life, listen to His words, and heed His example. Like Paul, then we will be able to say “… follow me, even as I follow Christ” to the glory of God the Father.
- Lord Jesus, You sanctify me by Your truth (John 17:17). You tell me to “be holy as I am holy and learn of me…” As an obedient child, show me how to “put off the old man and put on the new man.” Transform me by the renewing of my mind as I read, study and meditate on Your Word for I know that the commands of the Gospel carry grace with them and a Spirit that enables me to fulfill those commands.
- I must, by works of piety, charity, and mercy, live a life that is worthy of You, Lord. My life should be a living sermon dedicated to You. I must be an example of Christ before my family, my fellow believers, and those in my world. I must concern myself with godliness that I might say with the Apostle Paul to others, “be ye followers of [me], as [I] also [am] of Christ,” (1 Cor. 11:1).
- I deceive myself if I think that You, Lord Jesus, are only my Redeemer. You are also the perfect pattern by which I am to live in the power of Your Spirit. I should imitate those who follow You only in as much as they imitate You. Your example must be followed without exception, simply and absolutely. Help me continually demonstrate a pattern of godliness that conforms more and more to Your image.
Further References for 1 Cor. 11:1
1 Cor. 4:16; Phil. 3:17; Rom. 15:3; 1 Thess. 1:6; Acts 15:26, 20:35
