Are You Worth Following?

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. — 1 Thessalonians 1:6

Let me ask you something: If someone followed you around for a week — would you want them to become just like you?

The church in Thessalonica became imitators. That's the Greek word mimitae — where we get "mimic." They copied Paul's message and behavior. But here's the critical part: they could copy Paul because he was copying Christ.

Years ago, my wife said, "Why do you lower your voice when you answer the phone?" My mom was visiting and said, "You do. Your dad used to do that." I had no idea I'd picked up that practice from my father. You need to be careful how you live because someone will copy what you say and do.

After my parents divorced when I was eleven, God brought Doug Cochran into my world. Doug took me hunting and fishing. He was a man of few words, but his life spoke volumes. I sat with Doug in church. He took notes during the sermon and underlined verses in his Bible. So I started doing the same. I began to follow him and mimic him. He made an unbelievable mark on my life.

There are people God will bring into your life to copy. Paul was that kind of man. You could trust following Paul because he was following Jesus. In Philippians, Paul wrote: "I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10).

Here's the harder question: Are you the kind of model you want your employees to mimic? The kind of person you want your kids to copy? If you're not, change. If you are a child of God, He will speak to you and let you know what can stay and what needs to go.

This is why you rarely hear me preaching about "Don't do this, don't do that." Because if you are in love with Christ, He will give you the right want-to's. As you act upon them, you will become someone worthy to be mimicked.

Are you worth following?