THE IMITATION GAME

Paul once wrote, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ", and I never understood the true meaning of that statement until now.

We as humans are so prone to needing to look at the world around us in order to conform to it, to become apart of it. We look at influencers, and watch series and movies that all inspire us. Look at the recent Barbie movie for instance... how many girls have started imitating Margot Robbie after that movie? Not to say that you shouldn't wear pink, I mean pink is literally my favourite colour! But we are so quick to imitate the things of the world without even a second thought. With trends changing almost daily, we become stuck in this "Rat Race" of attempting to keep up. We don't realize it, but we begin to lose ourselves in this process. We start chasing the world. I have always been a lover of aesthetics, as you can probably tell from my last blog posts. However, let's not lose our identities in it shall we?

So how do we do that? Well folks, may I introduce you to the one who created you once again, Sir Jesus. He calls us to imitate him rather than the world. He calls us to serve each other, love each other (including our enemies), to lay our lives down, and most importantly, to live for him above all, to love him above all. But how do we do this? We, in and out of our own strength cannot accomplish this. We are so used to being able to see something and then imitate it.

I think that is why Paul wrote to the Corinthians who were still at the start of the journey of faith, telling them that they should imitate him as he imitates Christ. So look to people who are walking the godly path, but make no mistake that no person is without sin. We should be careful to only imitate the Christ-like aspects and not the person as a whole. We should be inspired by each other, and encourage each other. As you grow in your relationship with God, you will start to slowly see how he starts to transform you as he renews your mind, your desires, and your ways. When we imitate the world it leads to emptiness, but if we imitate Christ it leads to wholeness, identity, joy, and peace. The world has set an unrealistic standard and influencers tend to not show every part of their lives, like the messy side, the side where they actually don't have everything together.

So, I guess my question to you is, what are you searching for? Who is it that you are imitating? Do you have bits and pieces of many different people, or are you comfortable with yourself and your identity? Again, there is nothing wrong by being inspired by influencers, however do not get caught in the trap of trying to shape your lives around looking like theirs.

We, as Christians also need to live by example so that if people look to us, they may be inspired through our faith and most importantly the way that we live. That is what sets us apart. We are not meant to look like the rest of the world. We show our faith by living it out. There is no power in just saying the right things. People will not believe us simply through our words. I guess that is why James wrote stating that our faith is nothing without works. It is not so much about working our way to Heaven, but most probably so that we can encourage those around us, not causing each other to stumble. The greatest way to do this is to simply love people. To love our enemies, to love our brothers and sisters, to love people. However, what I have recently learnt is that one does not simply love their enemies out of their own strength, only once they surrender it to God are they able to do so.

Surrender your life to God, and watch the beautiful life he turns it into. Do not conform to the ways of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Be encouraged and have hope. He is not done yet.