Imitators of Him
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:6
My friend’s three-year-old grandson is full of life and joy. Every time he enters the house, he immediately looks for his granddad and then follows him everywhere, imitating everything Joe does. That includes sneezing, raking up sticks in the yard, and “reading” a hunting magazine. When Joe purposely does something silly, like rub his belly and pat his head and his grandson tries to do the same, they look at each other and laugh!
Paul commended the church at Thessalonica that they had stayed strong in faith by following his example and that of other leaders. Ultimately, they had been imitating and following Jesus, despite the hardship and suffering in their life. They set an example of how to serve and live by the Spirit with joy. They had learned to access the power given by the Spirit to reflect the nature and character of Christ.
Every day we have the opportunity to imitate Jesus and influence those around us. As Christ’s followers we are called to lead by example. With every act of kindness, forgiveness, grace and mercy, our lives are a witness to the One we follow. And we never know who may be watching or what kind of impact we may be having on someone.
Lord Jesus, help us to imitate You. May we live by the joy You have given us. May we be empowered by Your Spirit so that someone may see You in us today. Amen.