“For though you might have ten
thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ
Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me”
(1Corinthians 4:15&16) NKJV
When I was a young amateur guitarist, I would go to a
lounge on a military base in Toronto to sit in (jam as we called it) with a
bunch of local jazz musicians. I was the kid in the band and with my limited
knowledge could at best, just provide only a sold rhythm background, with simple
forms of chords.
One evening as we were packing up, the base player in
the group a tall Scottish chap, who I always admired, came up to me and said,
“Lad
you’ve got a good sense of rhythm but you need to expand your
knowledge of chords, get yourself a good guitar
teacher.”
Following his advice I signed up for guitar lessons at
a well-known music studio and started receiving instructions from an
accomplished guitarist; who often provided backup for performers on the CBC TV
shows.
Wow! What a program he put me through. He changed my
whole playing technique, widened my vocabulary of chords and showed me useful
progressions for accompaniment. He was a hard taskmaster and expected me to have
my previous lesson practiced up to standard before he would take me further. As
a result of his teaching, I was able then to backup a popular vocal group and
play rhythm guitar in 21- piece orchestra.
Recently, one of my grandsons has taken up the bass
guitar. I wasn’t able help him much because I am pretty rusty on bass. But like
the Scottish fellow did for me in the past, I encouraged him to seek out a good
teacher; which he did, and now I have the thrill of seeing him playing in our
church band.
Through my walk as a Christian I’ve found myself
imitating pastors and other Christian leaders, just as I had with my music
teachers. The apostle Paul was a strict teacher and demanded much from his
followers. But importantly he emphasized, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate
Christ”
(1Cor.11:1). NKJV. I believe my mentors also imitated
theirs as we should do also, being sure of course, that they have produced a
productive life.
Prayer
Father I thank You, for those in the past that I’ve
been able to imitate with confidence. May we all look back with gratitude, for
those whom You brought into our lives, to enrich us in practical and spiritual
ways.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Allan Smith
anjsmith@nextcom.ca
Innisfil ON
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