Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

- Philippians 3:17

"Example," "model," "keep your eyes on" ... Paul encouraged his friends in Philippi to take their cues off of him (and people like him).

In Paul's mind, there are models worth following.  This can cut against the grain of our Chatham County independent-streak.

But if you pause to think about it, whether you're cognizant of it or not there are models that have seeped into your subconsciousness. The way you're living your life today is either an imitation of or reaction against any number of people you've seen, heard or experienced.

Who are your models? Who are the people you imitate or don't want to imitate?

There is a healthy role for models in your life--and not just when you're a kid, but at every point along your life journey.  When it comes to models, we want to both:

1. Learn from everyone ... everyone has something to teach us, something we should imitate or avoid in our lives
2. Remain who God's created us to be ... hanging onto our made-in-God's-image uniqueness

We want to learn from people without becoming codependent. We want imitation without impersonation.

Some of us have an overly-strong sense of "self" and refuse to be teachable. Others of us have a under-developed sense of self and can lose ourselves in trying to be like someone else.

Scripture calls us to both stand upright before the Lord as someone made in his image (not enmeshed in someone else) as well as to cultivate a teachable heart that seeks healthy models to pattern ourselves after.    

Whose example are you following today?

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