Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good afternoon, dear people.
After I press send on this message, Becki and I plan to board the car and do a run down to Salem and spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening at the State Fair—just the two of us.
Blessing on the rest of your day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Surrounding the argument that he is presenting, Paul is desiring the Galatian believers to have the same temperament, attitude, and concern toward him as he has toward them. So he says, “I plead with you, brothers, become like me.”
Beyond the specific context and meaning of these words as they appear here, I’m inspired with a challenge to devotion and integrity of faith that we all need to hear. The fact is that Paul often, without any shame or hesitation, told believers to watch him carefully and follow his example of faith and conduct. May I suggest that every true believer should be able to say something similar—like, “Look at me. Be like me. Copy me.” On one hand I’m aware that some would react and say that sounds too much like arrogance. But think about it. Some may wish to excuse their compromised performance by saying, “Don’t look to me—look to Jesus.” But the hearer may legitimately exclaim, “Hey!—I can’t see Jesus—all I can see is you!” Anyway, if you are claiming to be saved, in love with Jesus, changed by His grace, living to please Him, and engaged in the most important pursuit of life, shouldn’t you also be at least striving to be a demonstration of what you claim? Question: How can we possibly be promoters of a superior faith and lifestyle if we are failing to demonstrate a superior faith and lifestyle?! Duh! Is not this practical demonstration the meaning of “light” when Jesus says, “you are the light of the world?” May I meddle further and suggest that if you cannot say with Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), you are actually playing games in your faith? Oh, I know we all have our little hang-ups and short-comings…but we had better not allow such things to snuff out our LIGHT. It’s a dark world out there. And the purpose of your salvation is not just to receive light, but to be light.
To help drive this point home, let’s consider the following scriptures:
- Acts 20:35. “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- 1 Corinthians 4:15-16. “Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:1. “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”
- Philippians 3:17. “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.”
- Philippians 4:9. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you.”
- 2 Timothy 1:12-13. “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.”