An Example Worth Following

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)

An Example Worth Following

Paul was quite bold. He knew that his life reflected Christ, so much so that he encouraged other believers to “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV).

It makes me think—is it not the goal of every Christian mother to be able to repeat those words to her children?

To start, I should mention that I don’t have kids of my own. However, I am a daughter, raised by a strong Christian woman who I call mom. For eighteen years, I lived under her roof, and a whole lot of teaching took place in those eighteen years.

I remember when my mom sat me down to share advice on my future relationships. I know I felt uncomfortable at the time, but looking back, I can see how valuable her words truly were. And by watching my mom interact with my dad, I know that the advice she gave held some weight.

I also remember the times I walked into the living room to see my mom’s Bible opened to the book of Proverbs or James (her favorites). She would never guilt me into reading my Bible, but knowing that she took the time to study the Word has inspired me to do so as well.

Looking back on the lessons I’ve learned from my mom, I see one common theme:
I learned not only by hearing my mother’s advice but also by watching her live it out.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, Paul talks about the example that he left for the believers of that church. He said that if only they would follow his example, they would no longer be in the wrong. They knew what they were supposed to do. They had seen what it looked like in action. It was only a matter of living it out for themselves.

In the same way, you cannot choose the direction of your child’s life, but you can be an example of what it looks like to live an authentic life for Christ.

Blessings and Love,
Samantha S.

Go Deeper:

  • In what ways are you currently reflecting Christ to your children? In what ways could you improve?
  • Who in your life would you describe as an “authentic Christian”? What makes him or her authentic, and how can you imitate that person’s example?

What’s Next?

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV). With Paul’s words in mind, think of one small thing (within your faith) that you want your children to remember you by when they are grown and out of the house. Maybe you want them to remember the kind way you talked to your husband, the fact that you were available as a listening ear, or the way you approached hard days with joy.

There are so many good options, but choose only one to start. Then, focus on improving that one thing for this next week. Though your children may or may not notice the change right away, one day they will remember how you so beautifully lived out your authentic faith in Christ. They will see the way you loved your family and your Savior. And they will know that to follow Christ, the first step is simply to imitate you.

Samantha Swanson
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