Who Do You Imitate?

How would you answer the question in the title of this post? A celebrity? Best friend? Sports hero? What about the “cloud of witnesses” we see in the book of Hebrews in chapter 12?

When I was in elementary school, I played “teacher” after my all time fav teacher. Mrs. Evans was so kind to the students. My fondest memory was when she gave me a peppermint candy in class because I was coughing. I felt loved and cared for, and quite special since I was the only one who got one that day! She was always smiling.

In my teen years sometimes I would imitate friends I thought were cool. Some of these memories are not proud moments for sure. When I was a young adult mom and wife of preschool twin girls, I wanted to imitate a woman I saw loving her family well, and loving the Lord even more. She was in a hard place with one daughter that took my breath away as I thought, “I could never do that!” She continued to have joy and peace as she faithfully served the Lord day by day. And to let you know a fun fact about her, she still teaches toddlers at church just as she has for the last 40 years!

When I faced a similar family crisis, she was the one I looked to and prayed with, and, who gave me hope that I, too, could walk in faith in spite of this painful journey we were on.

Recently my D-group completed reading Hebrews, and now I have just begun the study Better by Jen Wilkin with my life group. So I’m heavy into this amazing book written by…oh, yeah, we don’t know who! (Smile!)

I love the entire book of Hebrews, but the last 3 chapters always cause me to evaluate many things like: Do I live out my faith through obedience? Am I imitating those who love Jesus? Am I a person others can imitate…a woman who loves others but loves Jesus best?

In Hebrews 11 the “hall of faith” reminds us that not one of these heroes in scripture was perfect, and yet, they are considered faithful to God. In Hebrews 12, the writer of Hebrews reminds us to endure because we have a large cloud of witnesses who have gone before us who ran and finished their race well. They prove it’s possible, and we are told, “they surround us” (Hebrews 12:1). My picture may be similar to yours. For me they are in the stands as we are running our race, yelling “You can do this! Keep running. You got it. I made it and so will you.”

But we are also told HOW to do it:

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Then in Hebrews 13 we see something we must heed, and something we must imitate:

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:7

So, we shouldn’t only answer the question that is the title of this post, but also ask who is imitating us? And more importantly, what do they see in our lives that is worthy of imitation?

The instructions are to follow leaders of proven faith and become leaders of proven faith. Imitate others and be one others can imitate…as we follow the Lord.

In Genesis 1, God made man in His likeness. So, for believers, His image is the one we bear. As we walk in obedience to His Word, and as we follow others who are doing the same thing, we learn and we teach…not copycat sameness, but same faithfulness.

Paul says boldly several places in scripture, “follow me as I follow Christ.” Read 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, and Philippians 3:17. Even in 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy to take what he’s learned from Paul and teach it to others who are faithful who will teach it to others also.

No, we won’t always get it right, and I do not want others to imitate me when this happens. But we can show others what to do when they don’t get it right by how we repent and make restitution when necessary.

Paul was a disciple who made disciples. Are you? Are you a disciple who follows disciple-makers? Are you a disciple-maker others are following?

Banner photo by Sophie Dale on Unsplash