It's a new way

"Just watch what everyone else is doing."   A mother was giving her son advice for navigating the security procedure at the airport.  It was her adult son's first flight in many years.

Learning the skill of imitation is practically a means of survival in today's world.  Imitating behavior is how parents show the young how to function in the real world, outside the nest.  Imitation will make us feel comfortable in a new situation. Imitation influences how we dress, how we talk and too often our expectations in life.

When I read Deuteronomy 18:9-22 I jotted "Don't learn to imitate the detestable."  Again God was warning the Israelites that they were going to live in a strange land with strangers who practice strange worship.  He was very clear with the list of the evils that these strange people engage.

God emphasized listening.  Don't listen to those who practice sorcery and divination.  Do listen to the prophet He will raise up from among the Israelites.   God gave the qualifications for His prophet.  The prophet would be from the Israelites, not those other nations. The prophet is to speak the words given by God.  If the prophet speaks God's words, they will come true.  If the prophet speaks presumptuously they should not listen to him.

Imitation may be a handy skill but imitation can be dangerous when coupled with the drive to fit in with the crowd.  Just because all the other cars are driving ten+ miles over the speed limit doesn't mean I should imitate them.

Imitation must be yoked with wisdom.  I flew on a new airline just yesterday.  They had different boarding procedures. I listened to the announced instructions. Then I held back from being first to observe how it was done.  It was different but it certainly worked.  Both flights left on the exact posted time.

So it will go well for me in the life God has planned for me:

I must learn to imitate God's ways not the world's ways;

I must know God's word  to differentiate the evil practices of the world from God's ways;

I must know God's word to recognize and follow His prophets and leaders, not the loud false proclaimers of the world's ways. 

By learning God's word I will learn the survival technique of imitating Jesus.

*Don't learn from the world.

*Listen to God.

*Follow THE Leader.

Today as I post this thought, it is early Easter morning.  It's a new day.  The sting of the old is gone. The NEW has come.  I have new insight for a new day.  He is Risen!