Can You Say, "Imitate me"?

The last few weeks I’ve been thinking about parenting and what parents’ “model” for their children. Everyone knows children learn by what they see their parents do. We have common statements that describe this reality. “Do what I say, not what I do.” “Monkey see, monkey do.” “The seed doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “Actions speak louder than words.” Children watch their parents closely. There is a tendency by the child to pick up the habits and practices of their parents. If the parents yell at each other, throw around insults and “name call” they almost guarantee their children will do the same. When confronted with the reality that children imitate their parents, people respond by saying, “I know a child who … his parents were the worst! He didn’t pick up his parents' traits. We can all think of situations like that. Those children are the exception and not the norm. The Apostle Paul told the believers in Corinth “… you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT) That is a very bold statement by the Apostle. He knows he is adequately imitating Christ and, because he is imitating Christ, he can challenge the believers to imitate him. I want to live a life that is worthy of imitating. Could I say, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ?” or “Imitate my honesty, my integrity, my leadership, my serving, my compassion, my kindness, and my forgiveness?” As a parent, the onus is on me to live a life that is desirable for my children imitating. Do I want them to tell the truth? I better be a truth teller. Do I want them plugged into a church and regularly worshipping with God’s people? I better be involved and regular. Do I want them to be generous? I better be generous. Do I want them to live a life of service? I better be serving. The inescapable truth is our children will imitate us and they will live the kind of life we live. The Apostle Paul said, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) Jesus, transform us so we live lives worth imitating. Amen

I Need Wisdom

Jesus' brother James wrote to first century disciples: "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." James 1:5 (NLT) Another translation put it this way: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5 (ESV) I look to and rely heavily upon the truth and promise of James' statement. It is one of the foundation stones that I've tried to build my life on. Our world, nation, communities, and families grow more complex each week. Questions are being asked that we've never had to answer before. New conflicts arise daily. Many of these issues can be paralyzing. I feel a greater need for wisdom today than ever. If I don't receive wisdom and understanding, I can't lead like I know I need to. I need wisdom to respond to circumstances and situations appropriately. The good news is that God gives wisdom! I've experienced it over the years. You've experienced it. The moments when wisdom was needed and God gave it, taught us about ourselves, others, and life. Where do you need wisdom? Wisdom is available for the asking. The times I decided, reacted, or acted inappropriately are times when I didn't ask for wisdom. Because I didn't ask, I didn't receive it. If any of you lack wisdom … ask our generous God, and He will give it to you! Lord, I need wisdom! I need it as a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and community member. Thank you for being generous and never hesitating to give wisdom. Bring it on Jesus!

Ask Questions

If you’ve spent any time reading the accounts of the life of Jesus in the New Testament, you probably noticed that Jesus asked a lot of questions. His practice was to ask questions. When people questioned him, he questioned them in return. When someone tried to challenge him, he responded with a question. Jesus didn’t ask questions because he didn’t understand. He understood everything. He knew what people were thinking before they opened their mouth. He asked questions to get other people thinking. Jesus asked the “rich young ruler,” “why do you call me good?” He asked the woman, the religious leaders dragged before him, “where are your accusers?” When he sensed that “power had gone out from Him,” He asked those around him, but to no one in particular, “Who touched me?” When people were abandoning him and the disciples challenged him, he asked them, “do you want to leave also?” Asking questions is an art. Questions say to the other person, “What you have to say is important” and “I don’t know everything” and “I can learn from you.” When a person asks questions and listens, they are telling the other person you are important and valuable. James Thurber correctly states, “It is better to ask some of the questions than to know all the answers.” When Jesus’ brother James wrote, “Be quick to listen, and slow to speak” he could have just as easily written, “Be quick to ask, and slow to answer.” Too often we’d rather hear our own voice, give our opinions, and make our point than ask questions and listen. We’d rather be heard than hear. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT) One of the best ways to “take an interest in others” is to ask questions and listen. Could it be you and I can learn from others? Is it possible that asking questions and listening is the way forward in our fractured world? Could asking questions and listening to those we don’t agree with or find appealing is the key to building bridges between divided people and groups? “The person who asks is a fool for five minutes, but the person who does not ask remains a fool forever.” Unknown

Doing Life In My Own Strength

I have been reading through the Bible this year from the New Century Version (NCV). King Jehoshaphat appointed Levites, priests, and leaders of Israelite families to be judges. They were to settle problems between people who lived in Jerusalem. They were to serve as arbitrators and judges to settle disputes and conflicts. The king commanded the “judges,” “You must always serve the Lord completely, and you must fear him.” The king also commanded the judges, “Watch what you do, because you are not judging for people but for the Lord. He will be with you when you make a decision. Now let each of you fear the Lord. Watch what you do, because the Lord our God wants people to be fair. He wants all people to be treated the same, and he doesn’t want decisions influenced by money.” The king’s commands to the “judges” challenged me. I was challenged and reminded of the need each of us has for a Savior. I like to think that I “fear the Lord,” and I am “fair,” and “treat all people the same,” and I don’t let decisions about people and relationships to be “influenced by money.” But I know me! I can’t faithfully live out my role as a leader, without a Savior. I am prone to fear people and situations instead of fearing the Lord. I often fail to be “fair” and “treat all people the same,” and I have allowed money to influence decisions about people and relationships. I am prone to failure in each of those categories. My “prone” to failure nature is why I need a Savior. I need Jesus to save me and others from me, just as much today as I did 40 years ago when I first walked with Jesus. I need His forgiveness, power, grace, direction, and correction. It is only when His power and life are flowing in me, I can faithfully lead. I bet you have similar feelings and experiences. When you are leading in your strength, things are rough. When you are leading your family, a team at work, a community group or a local sports team, with Jesus’ strength, wisdom and grace flowing through you, leading is different and results are different. Jesus, teach me/us to lead in your power, life and strength. Remind me regularly – “Don’t do life alone, do it with ME!”