When you put a piece of paper into a copy machine, the machine makes an accurate replica of what is on one piece of paper, and puts it onto another. And when you take the original piece and place it beside the new copy, they both look exactly the same.
You can do the same thing on a word document on a computer. When I type “This” you will notice that that word looks a little bit different than the rest of this paragraph, but if I copy and paste it right here, “This”, you will see that they are completely the same. Those two words are identical.
A picture works the same way. When you take a picture with a camera, the photograph will look exactly as the real thing. They look completely the same.
When someone learns something, really what they are doing is copying the knowledge of someone else. They have knowledge that you don’t, but when you listen to them and understand it, then that knowledge becomes yours as well.
And that is what the Bible is: a Book filled with the teachings of God. When we read it, those words become imprinted in our minds, filling us with the knowledge and wisdom of God. It is a “spiritual blueprint,” and it shows us everything that we need to know and do. We need to follow those instructions exactly so that we can mirror the teachings of Christ.
The word “follow” has several different synonyms, but they all mean basically the same thing. Mimic, imitate, copy, duplicate, echo, mirror.
When the Apostle Paul went and preached to the churches wherever he went, he taught them the knowledge that he had learned. He wrote to the Corinthian church, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Cor 11:1)
Paul was a man filled with the Holy Spirit, and ordained by Jesus Himself to be an apostle, and Paul wanted the church to follow his example. He wanted them to mimic, or imitate, or copy the things that he did, and the way he lived his life. Preaching to others, helping the needy, etc. Because that is what Jesus did.
We need to hear and read the word of God, and follow it’s teachings. We need to be filled with love for one another, just as Jesus has loved us. We need to forgive each other, just as Jesus has done for the entire world.
God the Father showed His love for His creation by sending His only Son and allowed Him to die for the sins of the world. Jesus taught that everything that the Father did, He would do also.
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” John 5:19
To be followers of Christ means that we need to copy Him, we need to follow His lead and example. As obedient Christians, we need to live in a manner worthy of His name. To be just like Him, we must
Copy and paste.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 