Imitating Jesus’ Life

Years ago, I had gotten home from holding a church service at a rest home. It was a hot day in July. I laid down on my bed to just rest my back but fell asleep. I was startled awake by someone pounding on my front door.

A passerby had seen that my backyard area was on fire, and came to warn me. He told me to go tell my neighbors. I raced out the door warning others. After the firemen got the fires out, I sat down at my computer and typed out a letter to a dear friend.

Knowing I could have died in the fire, I wrote out a legacy from my life’s lessons.

I want to look at Timothy's legacy. The apostle Paul wrote his last letter to his son in the faith. 2 Timothy 1:5 says, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

Paul had taken young Timothy under his wing. He trained him to be a pastor. Paul’s walk with the Lord imitated Jesus. Everywhere Paul and Timothy traveled, Paul emulated the character of Christ. He was even bold enough to tell others to imitate him as he imitated Christ. (I Corinthians 11:10, NLT)

In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul instructed Timothy to pass onto others what Paul had personally invested in him. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I an example of Jesus to others?”

On that day that I was faced with death, I wanted my friend to know that my essential was to focus on intimate communion with the Lord. What would you pass on to others?

Lord Jesus, thank you for making the way for me to have a personal relationship with you. I want nothing in this life to rival our intimate communion. Help me to always exemplify your character through every aspect of my life. Amen.

Throughout this Day: Listen to Abide, by Aaron Williams