Paul taught to "be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1Co 11:1), be "imitators of the churches of God" (1Th 2:14), and "imitators of those who . . . inherit the promises" (Heb 6:12). The concordance translates the Greek word mimetes as an imitator. It is not just a superficial reflection. "Who is that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good" (1Pe 3:13 KJV) "if you prove zealous for what is good?" (:13 NASB). "Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me'" (Mt 16:24). It is a personal commitment. To "come after" is to pursue. It is not just an occasional pursuit but to "take up his cross daily" (Lk 9:23). Apparently his listeners were familiar with the metaphor of the cross. "'Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it'" (Mk 8:35). It has to do with the existence of the soul (:36,37). Literally if you lose your life you will die, but in this case, you will live again. So to "deny yourself" (Mt 16:24) is to put something more important first before selfish preoccupation. That means to recognize that there is a higher priority. "'He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me'" (10:38). "'If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate . . . even his own life, he cannot be My disciple'" (Lk 14:26). The concordance says the Greek word misco is derived from "to detest" but is by extension "to love less."