16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
Would you dare urge anyone to imitate your walk of faith? I dare say that there are people imitating you right now, even with all your imperfections. If you are a parent, your kids are imitating your actions, your character. This is true even if your words don’t match your actions. They might be outwardly conforming to your words, but their character is being built by the quality of your actions. Remember the saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” Your co-workers are watching you. If they were to follow your actions, what kind of workplace would you have? Your fellow drivers are watching you. If everyone drove like you, with that same patience and courtesy, what would traffic be like? It is easy to claim the Name of Jesus, but it is another thing entirely to live out the life of obedience daily. Remember this is a process. It takes time to clean out the old stink that once was woven into the fabric of our being. Don’t get discouraged because you are not perfect. Take time to yield to the Lord right now. Be available to His cleansing Presence. The more time spent with Jesus, the more we will see Him and imitate His actions. But it will be more than a surface imitation. When we get close, He changes us. His presence will permeate our being, changing us from the inside, changing our desires, attitudes and character. Take time to get alone, and let Jesus infect your life with His character.
The Arnold Journey 