Imitate Me

Questions

Are you treating your spouse in a way where you could tell your son or daughter to imitate you as you imitate Christ?

Or, if you don’t have kids… Are you living in such a way where you could tell your fellow believers to imitate you as you imitate Christ?

As a parent, you know that you’re kids are watching you.

The way that you treat your spouse, would you be okay with your child treating their spouse the same way?

Kids learn by watching… If you have kids, you see that some of your reactions, speech, dialect, faces are just like yours. Why? Because they have seen it from you.

Or, you hear young children saying these filthy cuss words, not knowing what they mean, why? Because the parents? The TV? Family members?

As a Christian, you know that the world is watching you.

Would you be able to tell a young believer to imitate you?

Are you showing the light of Christ where you go? Or, are you acting just like the world?

My devotion in one sentence:

The way you treat your spouse has an impact on others around you.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Paul had no right to say this before his encounter with Jesus.

But, once he had that encounter, and he grew in the grace and knowledge of Christ, he was able to say this...

I would say that many Christian couples need to have a real encounter with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has the power to change...

So many times, you see Christian couples not being the examples they should be for their kids, or for other christians.. Instead, you see them living just like the world…

We should desire for the Holy Spirit to change our lives.

We don’t want to stay the same as we are… We want to grow and be those examples for our children and grandchildren, and fellow believers.

So, how can we be those examples for our Children and Believers?

Serve One Another

John 13:14–15 NKJV

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Jesus has given us the ultimate example of service.

Do you serve your spouse?

Are you willing to serve your spouse, even when its inconvenient for you.

Do your kids see you serving your spouse?

Do you serve others?

Are you being an example of a servant in church?

Proverbs 16:24 NKJV

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

When you’re at home… How do you talk to your spouse?

Are setting a good example for your kids?

If you kids talked to their spouses, bf/gf like you do your spouse, how would you feel?

When you’re in public, are you setting a good example of being like Christ like?

Our speech to our spouses should build them up and encourage them.

Our speech should be full of grace and love.

James talks about how powerful the tongue is… We have to be careful in the way we talk to our spouses...

I’m blessed in the fact that I hardly ever saw my parents argue in front of me growing up.

We’ll end with this verse..

Colossians 3:12 CSB

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Paul is telling the chosen people, so he is telling us the same thing today...

Put on:

Compassion:

Are you compassionate toward your spouse?

Examples:

Stop asking, "What's wrong?" Compassion doesn’t mean something has to be wrong. Instead ask, "What do you need from me in this moment?"

Never, ever, ever say "I understand." Chances are, you don't completely. Instead, say, "Tell me more about how you're feeling."

Let go of expectations and compassionately accept what happens spontaneously.

Kindness:

Are you kind toward your spouse?

Are you kind toward you children?

Or, are you always angry and impatient.

Humility

Are you humble in your relationship?

Do you admit that you’re wrong?

acknowledging, at least to yourself, both your shortcomings and strengths;

making space for the other person to express himself by listening thoughtfully.  

Instead of being the only one talking, listen humbly… Actually listen.

Gentleness

When your spouse messes up, do you get angry and leave the room or do you hug your spouse and tell them “It’s okay.”

Gentleness never needs to yell.

Gentleness in marriage is much like a flexible but powerful backbone; it supports the entire skeleton exactly because it is not too rigid.

Everyone loves a gentle spouse because s/he speaks and acts with such strength that he does not feel the need to yell.

Patience

Are you slow to listen and patient with how your spouse is acting? Or, are you quick to get mad and frustrated.

Tips to be more patient with your spouse:

Pause before you say anything.

Be Understanding.

Don’t roll your eyes.

Patience is key to a long relationship.

Closing:

If we put on these characteristics, we are able to be those examples for our kids and other believers.

Our goal is to tell our kids, future kids, grandkids… Hey, imitate me as I imitate Christ.