Imitate Me, a Reflection on Philippians 3:17-4:1

Paul contrasts the way things are now with the way they could be. He preaches against self-asorbed, short-term thinking and acting.

Imitate me.
Some people don't.
They don't turn out well. They think about what they want right now--not about the consequences. 

We are looking forward to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Imitate me, he says. Paul teaches by doing.

Whether we realize it or not, so do we. Paul was conscious of the impact his choices in life had on those around him. Well, we should be too.

Lent gives us a good opportunity to think about where we center our concerns--whether it could be said about us that our god is our belly, whether our minds are set on earthly things, and so on.

And, could we imitate Paul in that love he had for the community (4:1)?