I Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 

We all look for someone to imitate in every walk of life.  We look to imitate those who have gone before us.  I love the game of golf and try to imitate the swing and game of certain professional golfers.  I will never reach their level of play but I keep trying to learn from watching their example.  In my career, I had several exemplary leaders above me that I tried to imitate because of their personal achievements, the way they led people and organizations, their values and how they lived life.  As a husband and father, I am aware that I often imitated my own father and grandfathers.  In fact, I wanted my own grandchildren to call me “Papa” in honor of my grandfather who exemplified characteristics and Christian values I wanted to follow and for them to see in my life.  We should ask ourselves a question.  Do you want your employees, those with whom you work, your fellow church members and your wife, children and grandchildren to imitate and follow your example?  It is a sobering and humbling question and be certain they are going to follow it; like it or not.  This should make us stop and make certain that we are living and leading a life worthy to be followed and imitated. 

The Apostle Paul made it clear in I Corinthians 11:1 that he imitated Christ and admonished us to do the same thing.  He remembered and was obedient to follow what Jesus had done throughout his ministry.  After washing the feet of his disciples in an act of love and sacrifice, Jesus said in John 13: 15: “I have given you an example that you should do just as I have done to you.”  Throughout the life of Jesus, He always took time in every circumstance and challenge to pray to his father.  This was just one of many other examples of Jesus that we should imitate.  Paul was not telling us as Christians and leaders to imitate him per se, but to imitate his example of following Jesus.  Every one of us should take this to heart and character of action, to live a life that obediently follows Jesus in such a manner to be worthy of being imitated by those whom we lead and interact daily.  My golf game will never be as good as those whom I try to imitate but I will still keep trying to grow and improve.  In our spiritual walk, we will never and can never be as good as Jesus, but He is the perfect one for us to imitate and live out in our daily lives.