A Life Worth Imitating

Imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery. In raising children, we quickly learnt kids constantly imitate their parents. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse! I remember one time when, in a moment of weakness, I said something I regretted. Our two-year old son, constantly learning new words, promptly repeated it after me! Though we ended up laughing about it, we also learnt a sobering lesson. Sometimes our behaviour is unworthy of imitation.

When we imitate someone, we declare total trust in that person. We believe their way is the best. We acknowledge they know something we don’t. We perhaps see the fruit in their lives and want the same. The path to success is clear: imitate the person you trust the most.

Thomas à Kempis’ produced a classic piece of literature in the early 1400s that, apart from the Bible itself, has possibly been the best-read Christian book throughout the centuries. It’s title is ‘The Imitation of Christ.’ This describes the goal of a disciple of Jesus - to imitate our Master. When we do so we proclaim that Jesus’ way is truly the best way upon which to model our own lives. We acknowledge that He knows what He is talking about. We trust in Him, in His words, and in His approach to life.

Paul made a bold claim when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said he had been imitating Christ and that therefore he himself became a model to follow for other believers. I find this incredibly challenging on two levels. First of all, do I actually want people to imitate me? Will their lives be better when they do as I do? Secondly, what does this say about how much (or how little) I am personally imitating Christ at this point in my life?

We can be prone to focus much on what we say or teach or believe. And these things matter. But what matters more is what we actually do. What we do, how we live, should increasingly be worthy of imitation. May God help us to become more truly followers of Him whom we seek to emulate.