I grew up at my grandfather's place and he always had a huge garden. One of the things he loved to plant was row after row of potatoes. Therefore I grew up loving potatoes. Even today when I go into a restaurant and order side dishes I usually order two different types of potatoes.
If you grew up on a farm or ever worked around produce, you know there are many different kinds of potatoes. There are sweet potatoes, new potatoes, Irish potatoes, russet potatoes, and the list goes on and on. Well, since I love potatoes and since I grew up calling them "taters" or "tators" depending on your cultural preference, I thought I would write about the different kinds of "tators"in the church (the body of Christ). Did you know there are at least three kinds of "tators" within the body of Christ. Some of them are mentioned in the Acts 17:32-34 passage. Acts 17:32-34 ESV Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this." (33) So Paul went out from their midst. (34) But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. 1. TATOR #1: SPECTATOR & HESITATOR ACTS 17:32 "others said, We will hear thee again of this matter" You know the spectator and hesitator. They always have good intentions and talk about what they "want" to do but never seem to make it happen. Imagine a football game. On any given Sunday during a football game you will have 80,000 people in dire need of exercise watching 22 people in dire need of rest. Sounds like church life. The Spectator typically... ***Sits on the sidelines and never gets involved in the game ***Has an excuse why they can't play in the game ***Yells and complains at those who are in the game playing ***Claims to know all about every position of the game although never proves it by playing. (Confesses with mouth but heart is far away). God doesn't want us to be spectators. He wants us to be involved in the kingdom. 2. TATOR #2: AGITATOR ACTS 17:32 "Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked." The Agitator typically... ***Stirs up trouble ***Is a hindrance rather than a blessing or help *** Makes fun and ridicules those who are competing in the game ***Acts in the role of accuser of the team God does not want us to be agitators. He has not called us to be mockers of truth but to the ministry of reconciliation. 3. TATOR #3: IMITATOR ACTS 17:34 "But some men joined him and believed" Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (2) And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Paul challenged the Ephesian church to be imitators of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to be Christ-like in WORD, DEED, & THOUGHT. Make an impact on your world. Let your life bear the testimony of a redeemed life with the light and life of the Gospel actively shining forth. Touch a life, witness to a lost friend, and give to kingdom work. Don't be afraid of an imitator whose life is godly, and don't be afraid to be an imitator among others. 1 Corinthians 4:16 ESV I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV (6) And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 2:14 ESV (14) For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, Hebrews 6:11-12 ESV And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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When you were a kid did you ever try to mimic someone's every move?
Number 1, as hard as you try, you couldn't get each facial expression or sound from the one you are mimicking anywhere near perfect. (But it was fun trying). Number 2, Usually the person you were mimicking was frustrated that you were copying their movements and sounds. (Of course the more frustrated and madder they got, the more you wanted to continue.) We are to mimic or be imitators of God. What does that mean? First we want to look at the word mimic and it's meaning. It is the Greek word mimētēs, (mim-ay-tace') and is where we get our English word for mimic. It means one who is a "close follower." The word is only used 7 times in the New Testament. It means to be imitators, to mimic someone’s speech, to mimic someone’s walk, to mimic someone’s accent, and to mimic someone’s manner of life. So since we are God’s children we are called to mimic our heavenly Father who is peace and joy. We are to mimic His words, His acts, His nature, His ways, His graces, and His Spirit. And know this, God will not get frustrated with us as we mimic, imitate, and follow Him and His ways. We have in the New Testament, the picture of all that God is in character and holiness in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact Jesus said if you have seen Him you have seen the Father. FOLLOWED/MIMICKED PAUL: Paul told the believers to follow or mimic him, as he is a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul understood the responsibility of living a holy and Godly life. People are watching, and our lives should be an example that others can follow. 1 Corinthians 4:15-17 ESV (15) For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (16) I urge you, then, be imitators of me. (17) That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. FOLLOWED/MIMICKED GOD: Paul understood and taught that the One we should mimic our lives after, the One we should follow is our heavenly Father. Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (2) And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. FOLLOWED/MIMICKED PAUL, THE APOSTLES, OTHER BELIEVERS AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 ESV And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, (7) so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (8) For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 ESV For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, Hebrews 6:11-12 ESV And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. In one place the word mimic or follower is translated zealous. You can place the word follow or mimic in 1 Pet.3:13 for it is the same Greek word in this verse. 1 Peter 3:13 ESV Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? Being a follower or mimic of our Lord Jesus Christ means that we learn to stay in His peace and joy while in the storms of life. Some storms of life by faith and prayer the Lord will deliver us FROM, which is truly an act of the Father's mercy and grace. However, most storms of life by that same faith and prayer the Lord will deliver us THROUGH, which is still an act of the Father's mercy and grace. Both are a call to us to walk in His character of peace and joy. WARNING: We can learn through our religious experiences to say the right things and do some of the right things when our heart is still far from the heart of the Father. This is being a hypocrite, or one who wears many faces. The mimicking and imitating we are speaking about is a constant change of heart from being around the Father and Godly saints. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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