“19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Acts 11:19-26
A story is told of a professor and his driver. He was a very learned prof and he used to be invited in many forums to teach and speak. His driver used to accompany him in all the forums, then he would sit at the back of the auditorium. When the prof was through, he would drive him off again. Through this, he got to know how the prof used to do his presentation. How he would start, the examples he gave, how he would answer some questions if asked and how he used to end. One day, he told the prof, “I can do the presentation that you do”. The prof asked him, “Really? Then he told him, the next workshop, I will be the driver and you will be the Professor.
The d-day came and the Prof drove his driver to the auditorium. The ‘prof’ - who was actually the driver, started off his presentation the way his prof did and he did it perfectly to the end. People knew that he was actually the prof. Finally, he gave time for questions and one man asked a technical question that he couldn’t answer. After a quick thought, he told the person who asked, “you may think that you have asked a tough question but I want you to know it is not hard as you think. I will ask my driver to answer you… Little the people know that it was a hard question for him… but his ‘driver’ - the real prof, came and answered the question and then later they left.
We all look forward to and anticipate to be like someone that we look up to. The driver ultimately did not remain to be just a driver but he learnt from his boss the professor. This is the same thing that happened to the disciple of Jesus. Long after Jesus had ascended to heaven, they spread out to all parts of the earth spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. The bible tells us that it is in Antioch that they were called Christians. And why the name Christians? I do believe it is because they behave like Christ and also, they preached Christ in whom they believed. The driver delivered the presentation just like his boss the professor would have done.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:1 “THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” God is our father and a perfect example of how we should be. Jesus his son lived an exemplary life that his disciples emulated and later they were referred to as “Christ-like”. We are his children and thus He expects us to emulate him and be like him in each and every way, and everything that we do. Jesus speaking to his disciples, he told them, “if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you… By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8. Like a father is proud when his daughter or son excels, so does our heavenly father. And that is what Paul urges the brethren in Ephesus to do. Same thing is expected if you and me. We ought to bring glory to our heavenly father and like Jesus, he can proudly say that “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.
Paul continues and says this to the Corinthians “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1. Paul knew one thing was sure, Just like Jesus had told the disciples, “unless you abide in me, you cannot bear fruits” John 15:4; thus, unless he looked up to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, then there is no way that he could be able to be imitated by the Corinthians. In other words, you need to realize that you cannot give what you do not have. And Paul realizing this, He had to make sure that he looked up to Jesus so as he could be able to be looked up to by others. This means that you need to be a mentor. The driver looked up to the professor and he learnt so much to a point that he could do what the professor was doing with ease.
You need to know that there are people who are looking up to you. Your children, siblings and relatives are all looking up to you for one thing or another. In one way or another, you will realize that there are people whom you are supposed to mentor. Who unto you if you do not realize this. This will be accounted of you on the judgment day. it is the prayer and cry of my heart this day that we will not only imitate Christ and be more like him; but we will go another mile and make him known. By this, I mean, help someone else to be able to know Jesus and be like him. This way, we will be imitating Christ and doing what he did.
On the other hand, let’s yearn to know him more. Like the driver, it wasn’t just enough for him to drive the professor and sit back at the back of the auditorium and learn nothing… like Paul, let’s make this prayer that he made and he said “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]” Philippians 3:10 Let it be our desire, not just to know God (Jesus) but also we be acquainted with him and know him more deeply and at a personal level.
Amen!!
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