1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first
time. He was struggling with the language and didn't understand a whole lot of
what was going on. Intending to visit one of the local churches, he got lost,
but eventually got back on track and found the place. Having arrived late, the
church was already packed. The only pew with a seat open was the one on the
front row.
So as not to make a fool of himself, this recruit decided
to pick someone out of the crowd to imitate. He chose to follow the man sitting
next to him on the front pew. As they sang, the missionary tried to follow
along. When the man stood up to pray, the missionary recruit stood up too. When
the man sat down, he sat down. When the man took the cup and bread for the
Lord's Supper, he took the cup and bread. During the preaching, the recruit
didn't understand a thing. He just sat there and tried to look just like that
man in the front pew.
Then he perceived that the preacher was giving
announcements. People clapped, so he looked to see if the man was clapping. He
was, and so the recruit clapped too. Then the preacher said some words that he
didn't understand and he saw the man next to him stand up. So he stood up too.
Suddenly a hush fell over the entire congregation. A few people gasped. He
looked around and saw that nobody else was standing, so he sat down. After the
service ended, the preacher stood at the door shaking the hands of those who
were leaving. When the missionary recruit stretched out his hand to greet the
preacher, the preacher said, in English: "I take it you don't speak
Spanish."
The missionary recruit replied: "No I don't. Is it
that obvious?" "Well yes," said the preacher, "I announced
that the Acosta family had a newborn baby boy and would the proud father please
stand up." There is nothing wrong with imitating godly men and women, but
we need to be careful who we imitate, and to what extent. Even the apostle Paul
was careful to limit those who sought to follow him:
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1
Cor. 11:1).
Follow the example of those you know who are living godly
lives, but be sure to keep one eye on Christ as the ultimate standard.
Otherwise, you may find yourself standing when you ought to be sitting!
Dear Lord, help us imitate you today. We pray that our
live would be worthy of those around us imitating. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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