Weekly Pulpit 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Some men are destined to lead either in evil or in good. St. Paul, who had been a leader in persecution, was made "a leader and commander of Christ's people," and he removes every trace of human assumption when he qualifies the exhortation with "even as I am also of Christ." I. TO FOLLOW CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE. It is one thing to look at the life of Jesus with interest and admiration; it is another thing to regard it as our pattern and inspiration. To gain the higher influence of the Saviour's life we must follow Him — 1. Wholly. The would-be followers of His day made loud professions of following Him, but when He said, "If any man will come after Me, let him take up his cross," etc., the crowd dispersed, and only the twelve remained. 2. Constantly. When you sit for your likeness the photographer measures the time in which to take a deep and sharp impression. Half the time would only give half the result. If you only look at Jesus once in awhile, and if serious thought only possess you at times, the flood of worldly influence will sweep away the good impressions as the tide demolishes footsteps in the sand. 3. Openly. Conversion becomes more real, love to Christ more intense, and hatred of sin more forcible by the exhibition of the virtues of Him who has called us out of darkness into light. The light we shed on others is again reflected on ourselves. The voice of the echo is sweeter than your own; so is piety when it returns to us from its mission of mercy. II. TO EXHIBIT CHRIST IS THE MISSION OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 1. The power of example is great. The ancient Romans used to place the statues of distinguished men in their halls. When they left in the morning they were inspired by the remembrance of their noble deeds, and when they returned in the evening they were ennobled by the thought of the associations they enjoyed. 2. The power of Christian example is the greatest. Both in moulding and reforming characters it has not a rival. Its force is that of Divine love working through human actions. God in Christ Jesus made His life the noblest of all lives, because it has produced the greatest reforms in the race. The life of Jesus in His Church is its perpetuation. (Weekly Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. |
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