Thursday October 19th, 2023
« Imitate me (Paul), just as I also imitate Christ »
14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
The Bible’s instruction in 2 Timothy 2:15 to
« Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. »
Simply means to carefully research and meditate upon the lives of those who obtained God’s approval.
Learn those things they did that earned them God’s approval.
In today’s text, we read of Paul- an outstanding apostle of Jesus Christ, who strove to reach the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The following are the things he did to attain this goal:
* One, he forsook the worldly glory and approval to gain the approval of God through the righteousness that can only be found in Christ.
* Two, he sought to know more of Jesus Christ in order to do His will; he was never satisfied with a life of mediocrity.
The apostle was bold enough to say Philippians 3:17 CEV
« My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you. »
Beloved, any Church leader who cannot say what Paul said above is not worth following.
Show me your leader and I will tell you who you are.
I will even tell you how far you can go in the Christian journey.
When I gave my life to Christ, I was blessed with a leader who was heaven-bound. That was my late Father-in-the-Lord – the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Any time I looked at him, I saw the glory of God and the image of Jesus Christ in him and knew if I could follow his footsteps, I would make it in my Christian walk. He was completely transparent, a lover of the cross of his Master and Savior. He did not only teach but practiced what he taught to the letter.
Paul, the apostle wrote Galatians 1:8-9 GNT:
« 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! 9 We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell! »
It is necessary for Christians to prove all things and hold fast that which is good, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
We are to abstain from all appearance of evil.
I advise you to seek out genuine teachers of the word of God and learn from them because only the truth and nothing but the truth can set you free from the errors of the end times.
Jesus Christ is the only truth.
Prayer point : Father, please reveal Yourself to me afresh through Your Son and Your appointed leader over my life, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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