Following in the Steps of Jesus

APPLICATION ARTICLE | John Maddocks | Toronto, Ontario

“For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24)

Life, even when things are going well, is a challenge.

Physically, our body’s immune system is constantly vigilant, protecting the body from harmful substances, germs, and cell changes that could make us ill. This past year has been a testament to how important our immune systems are and has reminded us that the Psalmist was right: we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). God has blessed us with a wonderful system to deal with many unseen dangers.

Spiritually, God has given us an immune system as well; one which helps us deal with the myriad spiritual dangers we encounter day-to-day. This immune system is our conscience, and it is a highly effective deterrent to spiritual dangers. However, this is only true if we effectively train our conscience.

Consider with me Hebrews 5:13-14:

“for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Our conscience requires vigilant training to make it more accurate and better able to help us deal effectively with the fiery darts Satan sends our way (Ephesians 6:16). A well-trained conscience becomes so by long exposure to the word of God, which fortifies our faith, and in turn becomes a shield to use against Satan’s attacks.

Peter, in our text, lays out for us the most vital thing that we need to take away from our study of God’s word. We have a calling. We have been called to follow in the steps of Jesus. To properly train our conscience we need to fix our eyes on the sinless Son of God.

John shares the same sentiment in 1 John 2:6: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Paul helps us understand how this is accomplished in Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

To properly train our conscience, we must walk as Jesus walked. To do that we have to train our minds to operate like our Lord’s mind operated. Matthew gives us valuable insight into how this is accomplished. Consider the account of Jesus fasting in the wilderness, in Matthew 4:1-10:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

When dealing with temptation where did Jesus turn? Straight to the word of God. His conscience was trained by a lifetime of exposure to it, from both reading and applying Scripture. So, when he was tempted to sin, he knew exactly where to turn. This is what we must do as well! This is his example that has been left for us. This is the mind that we need to have to be successful in our lives as Christians.

We need to look no further than to our Master, and as his disciples, we must develop this same ability to resist temptation. We train our conscience by doing what he did and for the reason he did it. Jesus said, “…I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

When we are uncertain of the direction we should go, the decision we should make, and the way we should respond, we need only to look to Jesus. What would Jesus do if he were in our situation? I cannot imagine a scenario where we would not be sure what he would do. It might not be what we would choose, but we need to train ourselves to put his will before our own, always.

Peter wrote, “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

So, when someone says something unkind about us, we do not return that unkindness. When someone threatens to harm us, we do not threaten them with harm. When someone hurts us, we do not threaten them with vengeance.

Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).

The life of one who follows in the steps of Jesus is not easy. Vigilance is needed, always. Retraining our mind is a necessity. A well-trained conscience is required. As Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This might seem beyond our ability to achieve, but remember, Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13; cf. 2:1-5). Paul knew he could, and we can, too!

Who will follow Jesus,
Standing for the right,
Holding up His banner
In the thickest fight?
List’ning for His orders,
Ready to obey,
Who will follow Jesus,
Serving Him today?
Author: Eliza E. Hewitt

21.04.06 | GROW magazine