CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 931

“Imitate”

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good… (3 John 1:11)

I worked with a Christian man who in spite of the high stress nature of his job always exhibited a calm, peaceful demeanor. I never saw him ‘lose it’. I, on the other hand, lose it far too often. The vaccine against losing it is found through the Word of God.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4) I find myself reciting this Scripture verse throughout the day when the stress levels peak. When I keep my mind stayed on Jesus, He calms my spirit and gives me peace in the midst of stress and chaos. He orders my steps and gives me wisdom and favor with those who are demanding a piece of me all at the same time.

I am concerned with ‘losing it’ because I know I am being watched. I am watched by all who know me or meet me. I am watched by all who access my social media posts. I am watched by my children and family members as well as neighbors and acquaintances. I am watched by God.

I do not hide my Christian faith and my desire is to represent and reflect Jesus Christ in my daily walk in the world and not just behind the cloistered walls of a church community. If my Christian faith is real, it is real, uncompromised and evident no matter the context I am in. It is not a light that can be turned on and off. The presence of Christ in me must be a perpetual flame bringing the light of the Gospel to dispel darkness. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

We are by nature imitators. We can all relate some mannerism, phrase, or euphemism that we ‘picked up’ along the way from someone else. Am I in my daily walk providing contagious Christianity or infectious evil to those who are exposed to me and might imitate me? For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we…give you in ourselves an example to imitate. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Being Christian does not mean heaven on earth. We will slug it out in the trenches of daily life alongside others who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. We will experience all that they experience both good and bad. …he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  (Matthew 5:45) How we react to these experiences testify to the character of Christ in us. Our life walk speaks louder than anything we may say. Our life walk needs to be worthy of imitation to the glory of God. Remember…those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)

We cannot imitate Christ unless we spend time with Him and get to know Him. We get to know Him through daily prayer and study of the Word of God. Such intimate knowledge that is required to sustain a walk of integrity of faith does not come from a Sunday to Sunday experience. Jesus commanded us: …Follow Me…Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… (Mark 1:17; Matthew 28:19) May the light of Christ be evident in your life walk for all to imitate and bring Him glory.