Godly Imitation

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NKJV) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit...

When we think of the word "imitation" we automatically think of someone faking it, or pretending to be someone they are not, or someone who plays games just to slide by and fool people. This type of imitation in the church leads a person toward hypocrisy. When Paul commends the believers that they became followers (literally from the original language: imitators or copiers) of the Lord and his ministry team, he wasn't commending hypocrisy but rather commending their desire to follow good examples!

I thank God for the godly men and women He has put in my life so that I might follow their lead spiritually. We have the Old Testament Saints and the New Testament Believers as examples. We have godly men and women in our lives, in this church, and in our family who stand as beacons of spiritual dependence! And most wonderfully, we have Jesus Christ to follow and imitate!

I'm reminded of Hebrews 12:1-2, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." When we do this we see our imitation of Jesus turning into being an example ourselves! That's what happens when you imitate a strong, healthy, spiritually mature believer; you become an example yourself.

I love this little poem I stumbled across: "The Gospel is written a chapter a day, by the deeds that you do and the words that you say. Men read what you say whether faithless or true. Say, what is the Gospel according to you?"

In His Great Love,
Pastor Ed

RESPONSE:
I just wanted to thank you! Saturday night you came up to me and asked me if I was ok I told you I was ok and you asked if I was sure and I just started crying and told you that my husband left and we are going through a divorce. I was so amazed that you came up to me and then prayed with me about him and his decisions. Sunday he and I had a talk for the first time. It didn't go the way I had hoped but I did get a lot out of it and before he left he didn't say that there isn't a way this can work out, he said he would kick it around. That was the biggest sign of hope I have had in 11 weeks. When he left and gave me his ring I felt a peace about myself - no panic. God has been with me the whole way and he told me my husband is coming home. It has been a tough climb but I believe I am almost to the top of that mountain. That is another funny thing, I never could understand people when they say the Lord spoke to them and I always wanted it and could not understand why I couldn't hear Him. I was also one of those that thought if I went to church I was saved. Since he left God speaks to me all the time and shows me signs and I have been saved for real. The other thing God has put on my heart is for me and my children to be there next summer for the water baptism and we will. I am so amazed now that my eyes, ears and heart are wide open. Coming to church is so different now, it is so amazing. Please continue to pray for us, I hope and pray after my husband comes home that I will be able to get him to come to church with me. Thank you again!