Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians
"Imitate me."
Text: 1 Corinthians 4:16
AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS
Paul was conscious of his role as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew that he had to be an example to the believers.
“Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
For this reason I have sent Timothy to you,
who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord,
who will remind you of my ways in Christ,
as I teach everywhere in every church.”
1 Corinthians 4:16-17
1. “Therefore I urge you, imitate me”
a) The word “urge” may be rendered “exhort”.
b) The word “imitate”:
i) This word is the root for the English word “mimic”.
ii) Paul saw himself as an example that his spiritual children ought to mimic.
c) This was not suggested out of arrogance though.
2. “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you”
a) Timothy was dearly loved by the Apostle Paul.
b) He was being sent to pastor the Corinthian in Paul’s absence.
3. “Who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord”
a) Paul declares his love for Timothy.
b) Timothy’s faithfulness was well proven.
4. Ministry of Timothy at the Corinthian church
a) “My ways in Christ”
i) Paul’s ways were well-known to Timothy.
ii) Timothy’s challenge was to teach the ways of the Lord.
iii) He would be eminently qualified to speak of Paul and his ways.
b) “As I teach”
i) Everywhere and in every church.
ii) Paul was very consistent in his life and ministry.
“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life,
purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance.”
2 Timothy 3:10