Send An "Imitation"!

Reflection:  When we have a party that we want everyone to come to, what do we do?  We send an invitation?  Nowadays most people use “Evite” rather sending a written card and asking for an RSVP.  On Evite, one can easily RSVP and the party planner can plan accordingly.

In today’s New Testament lesson, in lieu of what is going on in the Corinthian church, rather than sending an “invitation”, Paul sends them an “imitation”!  As Paul addresses the issues besetting the young Corinthian church, he concludes by saying “imitate me”.  Someone might say “Wow that is pretty prideful on Paul’s part!”  But if you look into the Spirit of the comment Paul is saying “Imitate the Christ in me that I have tried to live out in my dealings with you.” 

Paul is not claiming perfection, but his modeling a way of life that agreed with Jesus’ way of life in the power of the Spirit.  And because of logistics and all the other work Paul is doing, he can’t literally go and be with them, so he sends an “imitation” instead.  Sorry for the play on words I couldn’t resist.

Since Paul can’t go the next closest thing is his brother and protégé young Timothy.  Timothy is not perfect either (a common misperception among Christians today is you have to be perfect to be a disciple and make disciples), but Paul pays him a huge compliment when he says about Timothy, “He is faithful!”  And, “He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere.” 

Paul is seeing behavior in the Corinthian church that is wildly inconsistent with the way of life in Christ Jesus (see the man sleeping with his mother in law).  So although ultimately we are called to follow Christ and imitate him, God sends those to us who model the way of life in Christ Jesus.  We all need someone in our life that looks a little bit more like Jesus than we do.  And of course this is not about human effort, but the effect of God’s grace in our lives doing what we cannot do for ourselves.  Meaning I am not suggesting a performance Christianity, where we get prideful of about how Christ-like we are.  At the same time the need is clear today in the church for leaders who model the way of life in Christ Jesus. by the power of the Holy Spirit and can say like Paul, “Imitate me”. 

Could you say “imitate me”? Why or why not?  Is your focus on what you can or cannot do, or what God can do through you by His grace and power ? I believe this is pretty important  for us to think about as we remain faithful to our base calling as a believer in Jesus:  “Disciples who make disciples!”  If this cannot start with us, there will be one less person to do it with!    The next time you have a party make sure to send an “imitation!”
 

Psalm 51:13-19

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    so that sinners will turn back to you.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

    you who are God my Savior,

    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion,

    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

    in burnt offerings offered whole;

    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Job 28

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 There is a mine for silver

    and a place where gold is refined.

2 Iron is taken from the earth,

    and copper is smelted from ore.

3 Mortals put an end to the darkness;

    they search out the farthest recesses

    for ore in the blackest darkness.

4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,

    in places untouched by human feet;

    far from other people they dangle and sway.

5 The earth, from which food comes,

    is transformed below as by fire;

6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks,

    and its dust contains nuggets of gold.

7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path,

    no falcon’s eye has seen it.

8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it,

    and no lion prowls there.

9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands

    and lay bare the roots of the mountains.

10 They tunnel through the rock;

    their eyes see all its treasures.

11 They search the sources of the rivers

    and bring hidden things to light.

12 But where can wisdom be found?

    Where does understanding dwell?

13 No mortal comprehends its worth;

    it cannot be found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, “It is not in me”;

    the sea says, “It is not with me.”

15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,

    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,

    with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.

17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,

    nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;

    the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;

    it cannot be bought with pure gold.

20 Where then does wisdom come from?

    Where does understanding dwell?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,

    concealed even from the birds in the sky.

22 Destruction and Death say,

    “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”

23 God understands the way to it

    and he alone knows where it dwells,

24 for he views the ends of the earth

    and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he established the force of the wind

    and measured out the waters,

26 when he made a decree for the rain

    and a path for the thunderstorm,

27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;

    he confirmed it and tested it.

28 And he said to the human race,

    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,

    and to shun evil is understanding.”

1 Corinthians 4:16-5:8

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Dealing With a Case of Incest

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. Leviticus 26:12

God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Christ. Colossians 1:19 (NIV)

Christ, in you we see the face of God. Help us to understand the Father through the things revealed in your teachings, ministry, love, and sacrifice. Truly you are the fullness of God and a pleasing revelation for the world to witness. Amen.