1 Corinthians 11:1
"You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
When King Charles 3rd was declared our monarch on September 10th he promised to follow the example of his mother. I am interested how often people have spoken of the example that Queen Elizabeth set, and of its influence upon their lives. And the truth is, of course, that our lives all have an influence on other people. Whether we are aware of it or not, people are watching the way in which we live and speak. They notice particularly the way in which we respond to challenges and difficulties. When we think of the Queen we are not thinking of someone who was perfect, but we remember the way in which she conducted herself in good times and bad, in times of celebration and moments of profound sadness.
The apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians to follow his example and he did so not because he was perfect but because he was modelling his own life upon Jesus Christ. Before anything else he wanted people to follow Christ, and he hoped that people would pick up clues as to how to live closer to the Lord by what they saw in his life. 
I am quite sure that this whole topic stirs up in all of us a great sense of humility and even embarrassment. We are so well aware of our own shortcomings that we are alarmed that other people might be looking at our lives so carefully. But the truth is that they are! When Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, he said that their lives were like letters which showed the Spirit’s work in their lives. Indeed, he said that the best commendation of his ministry was the lives of the people in the Corinthian church. 
As we give thanks for the remarkable reign of Queen Elizabeth, we need to take a fresh look at ourselves. We have neither the pressures nor the degree of exposure of the Queen, but every day everyone of us is having an influence on other people and we need to pray that as we walk closer to the Lord, other people will see more and more of what he is like.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the way in which you are transforming our lives day by day. Help us to walk so closely to you that people will increasingly see your love, peace and joy. Amen

Released on 15 Sep 2022