Paul the apostle told the
church members in Philippi that knew there was more that he could
apprehend and attain as he walked with Jesus Christ. His desire for
the Philippians is that they also would grow in their relationship
with God and learn to walk in that which they had already received.
In chapter three and verse seventeen Paul uses himself as an example
as he continues to encourage the Philippians in their relationship
with Jesus where he wrote:
Brethren, be followers
together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an
example.
The
verse begins, “Brethren, be followers together of me,...”
Once again Paul employs the word
“Brethren” as he
continues to relate affectionately to the church members. He told
them, “be followers together” which
is the Greek word “symmimētēs”
and means “an imitator of others” - “of me”.
When the Philippians observed Paul's life and relationship with
Jesus, they were to “imitate” him in a united effort as much as
they saw him following Him.
The verse goes on to say, “and mark them which walk so as you
have us for an example.” Paul desired that they “mark
them” or “to look at, observe, or contemplate” which walk
as an example before them. In the First letter to the Corinthians in
chapter one and verse eleven Paul told the church to “Be ye
followers of me, even as I also am of
Christ.”, and he repeats this idea with the Philippians. As
much as the Philippian church members saw Paul following Jesus
Christ, they were to do the same.
As we
ponder Paul's words to the Philippians, perhaps we would also benefit
from being imitators of him. We might even know others whom we could
“follow” as much as they follow Jesus Christ. Our ultimate
objective and intention is to be more and more like Jesus Christ, and
there are those whom the Lord will place in our paths to imitate who
have followed him a little longer than we. As we seek to “imitate”
Christ, may we learn to observe others who are following Jesus and
allow their lives to motivate us to become more and more like Him
every day.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians to be followers of him, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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