Part 17: If Someone Followed You...

What if someone were to follow us closely, observing not just what we say but how we live? This penetrating question emerges from 1 Corinthians 11:1, where Paul boldly declares, 'Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.' At first glance, this might sound arrogant, but it reveals something profound about the Christian life: we cannot fulfill the Great Commission simply by sitting in church buildings and attending classes. True discipleship requires relational apprenticeship, living closely to mature believers that we absorb their Christ-shaped way of thinking, desiring, and choosing. The Greek word 'mimetai,' from which we get 'mimic,' doesn't mean superficial copying or performance. It describes the ancient practice of learning a trade or philosophy by living near someone and internalizing their entire approach to life. This is exactly how Jesus discipled the Twelve, dwelling among them so they could see God in the flesh. The challenge before us is humbling: Are we willing to let others see our lives up close? And if they did follow us, would they become more like Jesus? The standard isn't perfection, it's Christ himself. Our freedom, our rights, our decisions must all be filtered through one question: Does this reflect Jesus and His pattern of living? The world desperately needs visible, embodied examples of what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.