Saturday, April 23
Imitate Jesus
Scripture: Judges 11-12, Psalm 48, 1 Corinthians 10
1 Corinthians 10:24 No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.
1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.
Observation
Paul returns to and concludes his discussion about eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. He gives the guiding principle again in v. 24: we are to seek the good of others over our own good. He expands this in v. 33: “so that they may be saved.” And then adds, “Imitate me as I also imitate Christ.” Jesus is our example of seeking the good of others over our own good for their salvation. Jesus did what was best for us no matter what it cost Him. That’s love, and love is to guide our treatment of others.
Paul’s other guiding principle is in verse 31: whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Our first concern is for God, for His will, His honor, His purpose. God first! In this too, we imitate Jesus, who lived for the glory of God.
Application
In everything, live for the glory of God and the good of others. This is how Jesus lived; you’ll be imitating Him.
JOY: Jesus, Others, You. It’s a short acronym that reminds us to live for the glory of God and the good of others. As much as I know this, I need the reminder!
Prayer: Lord, keep this at the forefront of my thoughts today: to imitate Jesus by living for the glory of God and the good of others.
Bonus…
1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
Paul cites several experiences from Israel’s past as examples from which the Corinthian Christians should learn. He begins and ends by saying that these experiences serve as examples for us and they were written down for our instruction. He draws specific moral lessons from each experience.
Some Christian teachers warn against reading the Bible and drawing moral lessons from it, calling it “moralism.” But that ignores Paul’s words here, and the teaching of Scripture in other places. We are intended to learn from the example of others. Of course the Bible is far more than just a book of moral examples. It is first and foremost a revelation of God and Jesus—it is about knowing Him. But it’s both/and, not either/or, and we are expected to learn from and apply Biblical examples.
So, what lesson might we draw from the disturbing story of Jephthah in Judges 11?
All of Scripture is clear that God abhors human sacrifice. Jephthah’s story is an example of a rash and foolish vow, and what happens when we lack knowledge of God and His word. Compare Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 and Matthew 5:33-37. Rather than celebrating Jephthah’s actions as noble, we see them as foolish, both in making a rash vow, and then in keeping it when it’s contrary to God’s will.
Most of what happens in the book of Judges is not to be imitated, but avoided. It is the sad story of what happens when everyone does what is right in their own eyes, when the people lack knowledge of God and His word.