Be Followers of Me as I am of Christ 1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved”, and in chapter eleven and verse one of First Corinthians, Paul told the Corinthian church members “be followers of me” where we read:

Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

The verse begins, “Be followers of me,...”. Paul began with the words, “be followers” which means “imitators” “of me” or “like unto and according to Paul himself”. Paul desired for the church members in Corinth to be “imitators” of himself.

The verse goes on to say, “...even as I also am of Christ.” Paul continued with the words, “even as I also” which means “according, just, in proportion, and in the degree that Paul indeed, verily and therefore was” “of Christ” or “the anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Paul's desire for the church members to be “followers” of him was to be according to “same measure” in which he “followed” Jesus.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we understand how he became a “model” for the church members to “follow”. The measure of “following” him was directly related to the manner in which he “followed” Jesus. Paul was not pursuing “followers” of himself for “follower's” sake, but rather that they should “follow” Jesus through him. As people attempt to “follow” Jesus, they may know others who have “followed” Him for a longer time or are closer to Him than they. Like Paul, those “models” may lead to a closer relationship with Jesus, and they should always be leading their “followers” to Him.

Next time Paul praises the Corinthians because they, “remember” him “in all things”, 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, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.