Imitation

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." -1 Corinthians 11:1 

In Scripture, there are not many verses more beautiful and more difficult that this one. Imitate Paul as he imitates Christ. 

It's difficult because this idea flows out of his previous words on glorifying God in all that we do. Living fully on purpose toward God. Seeking the good of our neighbors. Caring for one another for the sake of conscience. Trying to please everyone over my own advantage. This is difficult work, and we all fail at it miserably. 

But this text is also beautiful because you get to do it. The other option is wrath for your sin and separation from the Creator. But in Christ, you are free to live like Christ. To imitate him. In his care for others, even those really different. In his sacrificial ministry, seeking the benefit of those who believe to their own expense. You are given the right to pursue this when before you had no hope to. 

Here is the really good news, though, whether your imitation is spot on or not: you still wear Christ's righteousness and will be glorified with him. Because of his life, death, and resurrection, you are secure no matter how much of the difficult work gets done. It is solely on his work that you lean. 

Frankly, this makes the imitation all the easier. It is simply living out who we already are in Jesus. Let's be about that today.

This is an excerpt from Depths a daily devotional written by Jonathan Shradar.