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"Be Ye Followers of Me"
A follower comes from the Greek word mimetes which literally means an imitator. The New Testament Scriptures contain eight references to followers:
FOLLOWERS OF ME
1 Corinthians 4:14-17 – “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
1 Corinthians 11:1-2 – “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.”
Philippians 3:15-18 – “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
FOLLOWERS OF THEM
Hebrews 6:10-13 – “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself.”
FOLLOWERS OF GOOD
1 Peter 3:11-14 – “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.”
FOLLOWERS OF US
1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 – “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”
FOLLOWERS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
1 Thessalonians 2:12-15 – “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men” (1 Thess. 2:12-15).
FOLLOWERS OF GOD
Ephesians 5:1-2 – “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
Being a follower in New Testament times referred to following Jesus Christ and His teachings. In 1st Corinthians Paul beseeches the saints to follow him as he follows Christ. In Philippians, Paul exhorts the saints to follow his example and not stray from the truth. In Hebrews the saints are urged to be faithful and patient to inherit God's promises. Peter urges the saints not to fear harm as they are followers of good who can rejoice in the suffering of Jesus Christ. Paul instructs the new saints in Thessalonica to increase their love for one another even though they were suffering. Paul exhorts the saints in Ephesus to follow God and walk in love. Nowhere in the scriptures are followers told to follow sinfulness. “Followers of Me” are followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings. They are followers of God. They are followers of the church that Christ established. They are followers of faith, patience, good, truth and love. We need to follow their examples.
