Disciple to Faithਨਮੂਨਾ

Imitation

Along with praying, keeping our radar up, being led by the Holy Spirit, living in proximity to others, seeking out people of peace, and exposing them to truth, imitation is essential to the discipleship journey. Perhaps you’re thinking that it’s arrogant (and cringeworthy!) to say to someone, ‘Imitate my life!’ But Jesus helps us to see that it’s not about our perfection. It’s about His.

Jesus explained that a student won’t end up being greater than their teacher, but that a student who is fully trained will be like their teacher. He was introducing an apprenticeship paradigm. Jesus’ disciples became like Him, because as humans we’re wired to become like our teachers, and the disciples paid it forward. Paul imitated Jesus, and Timothy imitated Paul, and the first-century believers to whom Paul wrote his letters were urged to imitate them too.

If we’re going to disciple people to faith in Jesus, we need to commit to being worthy of imitation. After all, we may be the only Bible some people ever get to read. With God’s help, we’re to be consistent in who we are in Christ, showing the person we’re discipling that, though we don’t pretend to be perfect, our values and our character don’t change in good times and bad. We become a flesh and blood example of what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus, loving, forgiving, and serving the way He did. That way, the person we’re discipling can see what it is they’re going to become.

You can take imitation a step further by offering to pray for the person you’re discipling so they can get comfortable with prayer and realise it’s perhaps not as intimidating as they thought it was. Just like reading the Bible with them, keep it short and sweet – super simple and accessible. Let them see that talking to God is easy enough for them to try too.

Imitation is how we learn in just about every area of life, so it’s no surprise that it’s part of how we learn to become more like Jesus. Never underestimate the significance of the consistent, faithful life you’re living. The people you’ve invited into your world will be watching you and learning from you – imitating you even as you imitate Jesus. Don’t be afraid! God is with you, empowering you by His grace.