Imitation Of Life: Romans 5:8

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

To imitate means to copy, to duplicate the original.  To be like or to act like the original.  It is said that imitation is the purest form of flattery.

The question becomes, who should we imitate?  Who so people see when they look at you?  Who is it that you want to be like?  Perhaps a better question might be, who has lived a perfect life before you that warrants you imitating?

I submit that there is only one life worthy to be imitated without question: Jesus Christ!  Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return: when He suffered, He did not threathen, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having  died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

The greatest form of flattery we can pay to Jesus is to act like Him.  To demonstrate Him to the world.  We can make the world a better place if we would only imitate and demonstrate the love of Jesus in the world.

Put on Christ.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.  The church needs to put on Christ and disrobe the world.  Disrobe jealousy, anger, strife, borken relationships and families and all the ways of the world.  Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day against the wiles of the devil.  Many in the church need to pull off their worldly earth suit and put on their Christ suit, which is LOVE!  Love should be the governor and regulator of the soul!

The love of Jesus is not an emotional love, but love by choice.  A love that is unselfish, a love that is kind, a love that makes sacrifices for others, a love that gives, a love that does not envy, a love that is patient, a love that rejoices in the truth, rather than iniquity.

LOVE NEVER FAILS!  One who lives by these standards is a life to imitate.

                                                               IMITATE THAT!

Christian Emergency Numbers!

Psalm 91:1
Psalm 23
Proverbs 3:5-6
1 Corinthian 13
Mark 11:22-26
John 15
John 14

Write The Vision!

It's never too late to write your vision.  Once you realize that life without a vision is like a man who can not see where he is going and he ends up nowhere, you will gladly pen your vision!  I simply want to inspire you to do it God's way.
Habakkuk 2:1-3  (In your spare time read the entire book)
I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will answer when I am corrected.
Then the Lord answered me and said:  Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.  Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
As you read the book of Habakkuk, you find a disgrundled prophet, who soon learns that complaining gets him nowehere.  He simply surrenders, as he listens to hear instruction from God.  And it is at this juncture that he is instructed to write the vision, and to wait for the manifestation.  I submit that like Habakkuk, we must each write the vision God has placed in our hearts, knowing that it is for an appointed time and that it will come  to pass.  Following is my yearly prescription for writing your vision.   Watch and see the fulfillment.  Any area not fulfilled should simply be written on the vision for the following year.  And feel free to add to your vision any time during the year.

    WRITE
I.  Spiritually what you desire this year:
    Things You Will Do:  these are only examples
    A. Fast more                                       D. Get involved in mission work
    B. Pray more                                       E. Sow into other ministries
    C. Witness more                                  F. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

    Things you want to see God do:
    A. Save your unsaved love ones          D. Give you wisdom in finances
    B. Save our nation                               E. End the war
    C. Heal your body                               F. Give you a plan to pay off bills

II.  Naturally what you desire:
     A. New home                                    D. $5,000 increase in income
     B. Loose weight                                 E. New car
     C. Learn new job skill                        F. Save more of my income

III.  What you desire for others:
       A. Salvation
       B. Jobs
       C. Restored marries

Write those things that are important to you.  One thing is for sure you will see the vision come to pass, tho all of the vision may not happen in the year you write it, over time you will see it unfold just as the Lord told Habakkuk.