“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [ My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests] and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].” (Luke 9:23 The Message Bible)
It seems like I often follow a long meditation with a short one on purpose. However, I assure you that is not the case. I just write what the Lord puts on my heart.
Today my mission is to relay this relevant, specific message. “There is a difference between emulating and imitating when it comes to being a disciple of Christ. The latter, imitation, means, in my estimation, to copy (a person’s speech or mannerisms), especially for comic effect or a theatrical effect. All of us can imitate somebody, even famous people or movie characters, but an even broader range of personalities, including our coach, a former teacher, a nationally known preacher with a large flock, and even our parents and grandparents. I do a good Godfather impersonation, especially when I have Alexa playing the movie’s instrumental theme music in the background. You all do some type of imitation(s) too! You know that I’m right about it. But imitations are done largely in jest or in acting out a role, and not purely from the heart.
I just thought about one of my sons who was not even three-years-old yet, but he would insist on wearing his favorite blue suit on as many days as we would allow, and he would preach to the babysitter on Monday morning, with his toy microphone, using all the moves that our pastor used at the conclusion of the service! The boy was good! I’m sure your imitation is good too.
Jesus wants us to follow Him, He wants us to emulate Him, not imitate Him! That means that He wants us to follow His examples and reproduce the principles, the precepts, and the practices that He demonstrated in His earthly ministry, and He wants us to do so from the heart.
There is a difference between emulating and imitating. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different when it comes to being one of His disciples. It’s Sunday. I’m done. Now get going! Get to church on time! Hopefully, the time change did not have you showing up at the time of the benediction! Like I always say, “Smile!” Enjoy worship and worship in spirit and in truth. Leave out of worship to emulate the Christ in the days ahead. Be blessed!
“God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 The Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King