Morning By Morning #138

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

1 John 2:6

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to be spiritually healthy, to escape the sickness of sin, and to enjoy the vitality of increasing grace, Jesus should be their model. For the sake of their own happiness, if they desire to drink deeply of His best wine, if they want to enjoy holy and happy communion and oneness with Jesus, and if they desire to be lifted from the cares and troubles of this world, they “must walk as Jesus did.”

Nothing will be of greater assistance in having a godly walk toward heaven than wearing the image of Jesus on your heart, allowing Him to rule your emotions. You will be the happiest and will best exhibit His sonship when you walk with Jesus in His very footsteps, enabled by the power of His Holy Spirit. Walking far from Him, however, makes you feel unsafe and uneasy.

Next, strive to be like Jesus for the sake of the gospel. Oh, poor gospel, you have suffered cruel blows from your enemies but have been only half as severely wounded by your foes as your friends! Who made those wounds in that sweet hand of godliness? It was the professing believer who used the dagger of hypocrisy. And he who enters the sheepfold under false pretenses, who is simply a wolf “in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7:15), disturbs the flock more than the lion outside. There is no weapon half as deadly as a “Judas-kiss.” Inconsistent, professing believers injure the gospel more than the sneering critic or the atheist.

Finally, imitate Christ’s example especially for the sake of Christ Himself. Dear Christian, do you love your Savior? Is His name precious to you? Is His cause truly important to you? Do you want to see the kingdoms of this world become His? Is it your desire He be glorified? Are you longing for souls to be won for Him?

If so, imitate Jesus! Be an epistle of Christ, “known and read by everybody” (2 Cor. 3:2).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

We have all heard, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.” Could it then also be said, “Imitation is the highest form of giving glory to Christ”?

The Word of God clearly tells us what to—and what not to—imitate:

“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there” (Deut. 18:9). The application of this is that we as believers should not imitate the ways of unbelievers.

“Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Heb. 6:12).

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7).

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good” (3 John 11).

The apostle Paul declared, “I urge you to imitate me” (1 Cor. 4:16). “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice” (Phil. 4:9). And what was the passion of Paul’s heart?

“I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). “I want to know Christ…, becoming like him” (Phil. 3:10).