“Do those things which you have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you”

— Philippians 4:9

Many people say in effect, “Do as I say, not as I do.” But Paul says in effect, “Do what I do, as well as what I say.” Paul tells the Philippian Christians to put into practice that which they saw him do: “Do those things which you have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you” (4:9).

He says something similar to the Corinthian Christians: “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul is not giving merely theoretical advice, he is saying follow me. Now that is a bold statement. How many of us could say that to others?

“What I want you to do, new convert, is watch me closely and do what I do in my life.” That’s how we ought to live. This is a tremendous statement from Paul. They had learned from him in his oral instruction when he had preached to them and taught them when he was at Philippi. They had received this epistle from his hands which they had read. They had heard from others of how he was enduring the punishment in the Roman imprisonment, and they had seen with their own eyes how he had acted while he was in Philippi when he had been persecuted and imprisoned and beaten in stocks while he was among them. Follow me, be emulators of me, as I emulate Christ. And he adds, “the God of peace will be with you.”

Lord, give me strength for today to so live my life that if others were to imitate me, that would be a good thing. Help me to be a good example that I would want people to follow me as I follow You…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE ARE GOOD
EXAMPLES FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.