"Follow me as I follow Christ"

Food for Life:
1 Corinthians 11:1-16

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1:1).

Paul continued to respond to questions as well as actions/behavior/attitudes in the Corinthian Church. Recalling that the Word was not written as the New Testament at this time, folks who were new believers - from Jewish and Greek tradition - couldn't pick up the Word and learn of and from Christ in that manner. So, Paul exhorts them to follow his example, of action/behavior/attitude, as he follows the example of Christ. Wow, talk about the awesome responsibility Paul had - folks couldn't go to the written Word to discern and judge what was of Christ and not; they had to rely on a living Apostle.

Today, we ought to be able to say as Paul, "follow me as I follow Christ." And yet, we know that our imperfection and sin is not the 'final word' by example, of what it means to follow Christ (although we ought to be as concerned about our testimony of Christ in our lives) - folks have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit Presence to guide, direct, follow, walk along side, and within!

The verses following 1:1 - 16, focus on public/congregational worship. Apparently headcoverings were an issue of the day in society - "In Corinth long hair on men was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labeled prostitutes" (p 2079 NIV Study Bible). Paul was instructing the new believers about how to be set apartby appearance from the pagan culture. These verse are not a command about our present day appearance related to long and short hair and hats.

Paul speaks to issues of 'headship'; which today is an explosive issue within and outside the church. Paul's focus was inside the Corinthian Church; he was not speaking about marriage or any other relationship. Among his issues of focus - which are most important for us today are: respect for one's spouse, reverence and appropriateness in worship, and God being the number one focal point of our lives. "In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God (vs 11).

"Lord thank You that Jesus Christ came to earth for our salvation and as an example of how to walk with You our God. Thank You that we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can also say with Paul, "Follow me as I follow Christ." Thank You that You have given us Your Word, which when empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are able to live out here on earth. Thank You that as men and women we are interdependent, and that we all are dependent upon You. We love You Lord, Thank You for Loving us. Use our lives to draw others, by Your Spirit, to Yourself, thank You Lord."