1st Cor.4:15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
[16] Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
[17] For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
It is often said, ‘be a leader, not a follower,’ and this might be true concerning this world’s affairs and life. But we who are in Christ are given the “doctrine which is according to godliness,” and written in our Bibles we are given the ‘mechanics’ of godliness by not only the doctrine itself, but by the faithful Saints who have put godliness on display in their lives as an ensample unto us. And many Saints are able to see the selfless love and labor of the faithful Saints who desire to be a living sacrifice, and partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to godliness. And that this ensample is ‘attainable’ unto all Saints, and being a Living Sacrifice is what those Thessalonian Saints became, they became “followers of” Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ as ones who gave up of themselves for the sakes of others. And in so doing, they became an ensample unto the World, and not only did Paul glory in those Saints, but our Father also gloried in them, and their selflessness and faithfulness was well pleasing unto Him.
1stCor.11:1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Eph.5:1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
[2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Moreover, we are taught to be “followers of God,” and also of Paul as he is of Christ. This is godliness, and being a ‘follower’ is be ‘after,’ or in the likeness of someone. And as we see in Ephesians chapter 5, we ought to be “followers of God, as dear children,” and “dear children” is not the same as “the children of God.” Being “dear” unto the Father is what He desires, and dear children would be children who would operate upon the Father’s heart, and His Word and His Will, and be of living sacrifice for His sake, this is well pleasing unto Him. This is that “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” and only the “dear children” would follow the instruction and will of his Father. And would desire that we be “dear children,” not just “children” as we see in Ephesians chapter 4:14 when Paul says, “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Those Saints are also “children of God,” but not “dear children” as Ephesians chapter 5 refers to those who will be “followers of God.”
Phil.3:17] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Furthermore, as followers of Paul, we follow the doctrine and faithfulness of Paul and other faithful disciples. And by seeing their selfless ensample, we too know what is “well pleasing,” and that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. And as “followers,” we too would “do as” we are instructed. And when it comes to this world’s definition of ‘followers,’ not only would they follow the will of the one whom they are following, they would even give up of themselves for the one they have given themselves to follow. And we see the effect that those have upon their followers, Satan too knows what’s at stake in the life of the Saints to have them walk after this world, and be “taken captive by him at his will.” And Satan’s plan is to have the Saints follow his design for this world, and not be followers of God. But notice Paul and the faithful, they followed the selfless design of the Lord and regardless the sufferings, they continued to not allow any of those things to separate them from operating upon, and following Christ’s Selfless Love.
1stThess.1:3] Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
[4] Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
[5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
[6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
[7] So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
Finally, we too ought to “walk worthy of God,” after His likeness in godliness. And walking in love as Ephesians chapter 5:2 says is following our Lord’s selfless ensample, and notice it says, “as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” And we too ought to follow His selfless design as sons, and our ‘obeying from the heart that form of doctrine,’ would have the Saints to walk according to His Word. They would “reprove” the “unfruitful works of the flesh,” and they would walk in charity unto the Church. This is how Paul walked, but most importantly, this is how the Lord would have the members of His Body to walk as well. And so, being followers of God as dear children is what God desires, and we have the opportunity to put His power on display through us, and we as His “followers,” are despised by this world and Satan, but loved by our Father for godliness sake.
1stThess.2:12] That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
[13] For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is In truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
[14] For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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