The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Do These Four Things

The art of imitation is the greatest compliment, but it is the most dangerous. Asking someone to imitate the life of another is taking on a grave responsibility fraught with danger. Can a person live to invite others to walk as they walk and talk as they talk? The frailty of the nature of man makes him an imperfect being, asking other imperfect beings to be like them. Living in such a way to ask others to imitate their lives can only be done through the grace of God. Paul boldly asked his brethren to imitate him as he imitated Jesus Christ.

When Paul was confined to a Roman prison, he wrote a letter to the Philippian church with a message of joy, imploring them to rejoice in the Lord always. He was shackled with chains, but his heart was free in Christ. Remarkably, the apostle told the saints in Philippi not to be anxious about anything but to trust in God through prayer. He wanted them to think about noble things that would lift their spirits. And he asked four things of the brethren taken from his own life.

Paul wanted the Christians to imitate his life through what he had taught them. On Paul’s second missionary journey, he came to the city of Macedon and taught Lydia and her household and the jailor of Philippi and his household. He had taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ and wanted them to continue in the things he had taught them. The sound doctrine of truth was embedded in the hearts of the brethren so that when Paul left them, they would continue in the pattern of truth.

After Paul left Phillipi, it seems that other correspondence from the apostle was likely sent to the Philippian church to help them grow in the knowledge of Christ. He encouraged them to hold fast to all the things the brethren had received from Paul. Feeling confident in what he had taught them, he said that if they followed those words and his example of faith, they would grow stronger in their faith. This is a bold position to place oneself, but Paul knew he had taught them the truth.

The third encouragement from the apostle was for the brethren to remember what he had said to them and use that as a pattern of guiding the young church. His preaching helped to teach the family of Lydia and the jailor the gospel. Before Paul left Philippi, he spent many hours sharing the doctrine of Christ with the newly baptized believers. There was much to teach and say and establish, and in the short time he was there, Paul wasted no time answering questions, establishing lines of authority, and showing the joy of salvation.

Finally, Paul asked the saints to do one more thing. He prayed the brethren would follow his example in life. What they saw in his life, he asked them to imitate. How many people can say with confidence that others should follow their example? Paul wanted them to do as he did, not do as he said. It is easy to tell others how to live, but the hard part comes when they are asked to imitate the daily walk of a person’s life. The apostle was sitting in a jail, inviting others to be like him. He was jailed for the cause of Christ. The Philippian’s brethren were praying for Paul, and the apostle was praying for them. Reflecting on his time in Philippi and the measure of his work in the kingdom of God, he was offered as an example for others to follow.

Paul’s request was not a casual admonition. He was serious about the saints to do as he had done in teaching, example, word, and deed. Putting himself out there for the brethren to examine closely every part of his life – Paul asked them to do as he had done. If there is a measure of faith that all of God’s children should strive for, it is to attain to the time in life when what Paul asked of the saints at Philippi can be asked of brethren today. The things others have learned in me, received from me, heard from me, and saw in me … can that be a pattern to follow?