Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:17-20 ESV)
Are you imitating Paul?
Kind of hard to imitate someone you have never seen. Now we have a lot written from him and can see how he might have lived based on that. So it is easier to imitate the person we believe he was form his writings. But is it really Paul we are to imitate?
Paul tells us to “keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Yes this line does come after imitate me, but this follows after his unpacking of what everything is compared to Christ. So maybe we are to imitate Christ and use the example of Paul and how he walked and lived. We all have a person in our lives that is a model to follow in their walk of discipleship. I have several, and most of them have also seen at their worst. And to me that is what makes them a good model for my faith. You see they do not have it all together and they speak that. They live their brokenness for the world to see. They do not hide it or sugar coat it. They are the living breathing embodiment of what God has called us to be. REAL.
So be real and show the world you don’t have it all together, but also show them who you rely on. And walk as He would have walked.
aSacredRebel 