Imitate Me as I Imitate Christ
Keep Your Eyes on the Leader
Have you ever tried to follow someone’s lead, only to realize you lost sight of them? Maybe you were in a crowd, in a game, or even trying to mimic dance moves—and the moment you looked away, you got off track. That’s exactly what it’s like in our walk with Jesus. If we want to imitate Him, we have to keep our eyes on Him.
When I spoke at a school chapel, we did an activity where students tried to follow a leader’s movements. It worked best when they could see the leader clearly. The moment their eyes drifted—from side glances to completely turning away—they got off track. It was a simple reminder: you can’t imitate someone you’re not watching.
Abide First. Imitate Second.
The same is true in our faith. As followers of Jesus, we are called to imitate Him. But how can we do that if we aren’t abiding in Him, staying close, and focused on who He is?
This past year, 11one Ministries launched with a heart to walk alongside students, leaders, and churches in their pursuit of Jesus. And as we reflect on that journey, we’ve seen again and again that discipleship isn’t about perfection—it’s about proximity. It’s about focus. It’s about abiding.
John 15 reminds us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Our job isn’t to bear fruit on our own—it’s to stay connected to the source of life. Abiding comes first. Imitation follows.
An Intimidating Command?
The apostle Paul captured this beautifully when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”
That sounds bold, doesn’t it? When I first read that verse as a high school student, it felt overwhelming. I wondered, “How could I possibly live that out? Jesus is perfect. I’m not!”
At the time, I viewed this verse as a burden. I thought I had to say all the right things, do all the right things, and never mess up. If I slipped up, I felt like I had failed Jesus—and failed everyone watching me. Worse, I started looking at others to compare myself. If they messed up, I secretly felt a little better about where I stood.
The Problem with Comparison
But here's the problem: I wasn’t looking at Jesus. I had taken my eyes off the leader. I was focused on others—or on myself. And just like in that chapel activity, when our eyes are not on the leader, we can’t follow well.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul was actually addressing this very issue. The believers were so focused on comparing themselves to one another, judging, and correcting, that they lost sight of Christ. Sound familiar? Our culture can feel the same way. If we’re busy critiquing everyone else, we’re not walking in love. We’re not walking in step with our Savior.
A Shift in Perspective
So what changed for me? It goes back to that word again: Abide.
Abiding in Jesus means spending time with Him—in prayer, in Scripture, and with His people. Colossians 3:16 says:
“Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Let the Word dwell richly. That takes time. It takes consistency. It takes patience.
For me, it took about 15 years for my perspective on 1 Corinthians 11:1 to shift. God’s Word had to slowly sink into my heart. The Spirit had to soften, challenge, and shape me. It didn’t happen overnight. But I kept reading. I kept praying. I kept showing up to church and surrounding myself with people who helped me focus on Jesus.
Following Jesus is a slow, steady journey of becoming more like Him. It’s like training for a sport or learning a new skill. You don’t become a pro overnight—you grow one faithful step at a time.
And then, something unexpected happened.
When I was working as a student minister, one of my freshmen told me she wanted to be a student ministry leader when she grew up—because of my influence. I was stunned. I wasn’t perfect. But I was doing my best to follow Jesus, and she noticed.
The Holy Spirit put 1 Corinthians 11:1 back in my head and gently reminded me: you don’t have to be perfect to lead others. You just have to keep your eyes on Jesus.
Abide in Him. Walk with others. Invite people into the journey with you. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
So let me ask you:
Are you trying to grow without staying connected to Jesus, The Vine? Reconnect.
Are you carrying the pressure to be a “perfect Christian”? Lay it down.
Are you measuring your walk by comparing yourself to others? Refocus.
Have you taken your eyes off Jesus and turned away? Turn back and talk to someone who can help point you to truth.
Have you started strong but drifted in the everyday busyness? Fix your focus.
Maybe you’ve turned your back on Jesus. Maybe you feel let down or unheard. Don’t stay in that place alone. Reach out to someone who loves Jesus and has walked through hard seasons. Let the body of Christ remind you of who Jesus really is—faithful, loving, and near.
Walk With Jesus—And Invite Others Along
Make it your goal to walk more closely with Jesus than ever before. Abide in Him. Let Him transform you. And then, invite others to follow you as you follow Him.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to stay focused.
Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and walk together.
— Kayla, 11one Ministries