“Imitate me”, this was what Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Christians. Young babies and children learn by imitation. The first persons they learn from are their parents and siblings. Parents are readily amused and play by contorting facial expressions just for their babies to imitate them. The best way to teach young children is to have them follow precise instructions and examples of good behaviour. Most parents will endeavor to act and speak appropriately and morally right in front of their children so that the children will imitate good and right behavior from a young age. As children grow older into teenagers, many will be disappointed that their parents actually say one thing but do another and that is the time when they become disobedient and rebellious. Good morals must be both taught and caught.

The Corinthian Christians have deviated from Paul’s earlier teachings and it was necessary for them to be reminded. As Paul was unable to go to see them, he sent Timothy his well-disciplined and discipled son who obviously has learned to imitate Paul’s Christian faith. Timothy will testify to them, Paul’s way of life in Christ Jesus. Sometimes talking about real life experiences and encounters of difficult situations and how faith had been tested, make for better learning and appreciation than merely instructing with a set of do’s and don’ts. Leaders in authority, parents and teachers want their followers, children and students to be morally upright and are good at issuing commands but need to realize that being living examples are crucial if not more important.

Your leaders lead by example, follow them, Paul told the Corinthian Christians. Remember your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the apostles who followed Jesus to death, they spoke the word of God and they lived their lives for Jesus – “imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7). Leaders have the moral authority to lead their Christian congregation when they are diligent imitators of Jesus. Paul imitated Jesus and Timothy imitated Paul. This is the key in Christian discipleship. Not that one can be perfect in all his ways, a disciple-maker must be ready to open his life for inspection and show that they are genuine followers of Jesus before anyone would consent to follow them. To quote AW Tozer, “True moral wisdom must always be an echo of God’s voice. The only safe light for our path is the light which is reflected from Christ.” Christians are to be echoing God’s voice and imitate Jesus in their daily Christian walk.