Watch and learn and do…

It’s finally Friday…and I’m Pastor James St. John.

There is something refreshing about watching someone who is an expert in their field.  They perform their tasks in an almost effortless manner.  Maybe you have a favorite professional player in football or baseball that comes to mind.  They are in a class that is often described as “poetry in motion.”  Michael Irvin, who was a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys years ago and is now a sports commentator, made a statement earlier this week that reflects the kind of admiration I’m talking about.  He said this about the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes is like god playing football. 

Every generation has a sports star that seems to transcend humanity in their performance.  Their names become synonymous with their respective sport and they are admired by fans and non-fans alike for their performance. Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan…these are just a few of the names that come to mind. Young players, aspiring to attain success, study their habits and try to emulate their greatness.

⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9

In our focus scripture, Paul is pretty plain.  “Whatever you have…seen in me-put it into practice.”  Paul desired for the readers of this letter to recognize him as an example of one who lived what he preached.  He was unafraid and unashamed to exhort them to follow that example.  In 1 Corinthians 11, he said it this way: “follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”

I don’t believe  this was a power play for Paul.  His attitude was not to place himself on a pedestal above others, seeking their approval or glory.  Remember what he says earlier in the Philippian letter, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3).  Paul then pens one of the premier statements about having the mind of Christ and becoming like Jesus in all our dealings.  No, I truly believe that Paul saw that his responsibility was to be an example to others.

How about us?  While to church is not meant to be a mutual admiration society, we must hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in the scriptures calling us to step up and serve/lead.  Our life becomes a testimony to His power to transform lives through the gospel.  While not everyone is a gifted prophet, pastor, apostle, and the like, we are all supernaturally gifted for the benefit of the Body of Christ.  That is a powerful scriptural truth that we must begin to grasp.

So…I think it is actually healthy to seek out a Christian brother or sister from whom we can learn by observation and imitation.  They can be an example to us as we see them working out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), dependent on the presence of God to move and make them into who and what He desires them to be.  Then we can, likewise, be the same for others.  That is an aspect of the discipleship model.  We are called to make disciples.  That is what Paul is doing here.

AND, through it all, we do it all dependent on this truth: “and the God of peace will be with you.”

Yes, and Amen!