Notes of Faith July 24, 2025

Duplications

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 3:17, NLT

Have you heard of mimeograph machines? They preceded photocopiers, scanners, and 3-D printers. For many churches, the first opportunity to print their own materials came with mimeograph machines. A waxed-paper stencil was inserted into the typewriter, which cut letters onto the film. The film was rolled around an ink drum which was turned with a crank.

The church has always been in the duplication business. Our main object of duplication is people. The Lord Jesus stamps His image on us, and as others pattern their lives after ours, we help them grow to be duplicates of Christ.

God’s Word must be passed on to those who aren’t as far along as we are in our Christian walks. Through formal discipleship programs or informal times of sharing God’s Word, giving counsel, and praying together, let your life guide someone closer to Jesus. Ask God to duplicate Christ’s likeness in you, then through you!

There are few people whom God calls to do great things for him, but the best thing most of us can do in this world is to live out a real, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life in our allotted place. Thus in our little measure we shall repeat the life of the Master himself.

J. R. Miller

Being perfectly Christlike is impossible as long as we carry the old nature with us. One day God will take that nature away and we will be perfectly holy and live without sin, in the presence of God forever.

We should follow and imitate those whom God places around us who display the character of God. They will not be perfect, but we are given these to be blessed with the glory of God we find in them. Imitate those things that are righteous and holy and work on the things in yourself that are not, that others might be able to watch your life and imitate you! May you be a godly blessing to someone today!

Pastor Dale