THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

If you saw Jesus walking on water, what would you say? You might be too shocked to say anything. Like the apostles, you might say: "It is a ghost" or a hallucination (Mt 14:26). Maybe some people would say: "Praise the Lord!" But who would say with Peter: "Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to You across the water"? (Mt 14:28) Peter was often different. What made him say such a thing?

Perhaps Peter intuitively grasped the essence of discipleship when he asked to walk on the water. Christian discipleship is to imitate Jesus — not merely in a general way but as exactly as possible. As far as possible, disciples walk, think, feel, work, love, talk, see, and live as Jesus does. Disciples are interested in walking on the water only in imitation of Jesus.

Are you preoccupied with imitating Jesus? Do you read the Bible so as to better imitate Jesus? Do you consider it a "good day" or a "good life" based on how well you imitate Jesus? Think discipleship. Think the imitation of Christ.