Imitation is a natural part of life and development. Children imitate their parents by watching and repeating their words or their actions. Athletes watch other successful athletes and follow their coaches’ instruction to get better in their skill set. Both, the writer of Hebrews and Paul encouraged imitating the faith of others. However, imitation is effective when it is done for a period of time and within the right context.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1Corinthians 11:1
The writer of Hebrews is exhorting the believers to imitate those who have gone before them in the faith. Emulating other believers is an important aspect of Christian walk as we learn how to be a Godly man or woman of God.
Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to follow in his footsteps. Paul’s focus was to imitate Christ and become more like Jesus. When the Corinthian believers imitated him, in reality, they were imitating Christ.
While imitation is a healthy aspect of learning process, it’s constructive when it happens for a finite time. For example, when a child is 2 or 3 years old, they imitate their parents even though they may not fully understand the meaning of their actions or words. However, if the same child is copying their parents when they are 13 years old, it would be concerning because every parent wants their child to develop their own personality, cognition, and uniqueness.
Similarly, spiritual imitation should happen for a finite time. When a new believer tries to imitate an older saint in how they pray or study the Bible, that’s a healthy imitation. However, if the new believer still tries to imitate the older saint 10 years later, the imitation would hinder their spiritual development.
We are all called to imitate Christ, but we need to be careful if we are too focused on imitating others. We should also encourage others to follow and imitate Christ and release them from the need to imitate us.
We were all given the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation, and He will teach us all things. If we are continually imitating others or other believers are imitating us, we are not leaving room for the Holy Spirit to be the helper that God had intended.
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
