Imitation from admiration IS the Gospel lived out! The recurring theme of Paul's letter to the Colossian believers was to stay centered on Jesus. Our lives are hidden with Christ in the Father. This implies a need to seek Him, discover Him in growing and intimate ways. The overall picture is very much like a young boy who imitates his father who he looks up to. He admires him and wants nothing more than to be just like him. He pays attention to what he does, where he goes, what he likes, what he wears and becomes SO influenced by him, that he begins to acclimate to his ways. This is not just by means of forced imitation, but through loving admiration - his find himself influenced by his father to the point that he is becoming like him without any real effort at all. THAT is the gospel! Blessings!