"WALKING IN HIS STEPS!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

1 PETER 2:21-25

Charles Sheldon wrote a great novel entitled, "In His Steps." In the novel, preacher Henry Maxwell challenged his congregation not to do anything, not to make any decision, for an entire year, without first asking the question, "What would Jesus do?" Asking and answering that question made a huge difference in the lives of those who took that pledge and a huge difference in the congregation. It meant entire dedication of money, talent, career and influence to follow in Christ's steps. Peter tells us to, "Follow in His steps." What does that mean in practical terms?

1. IT MEANS GOING THE SAME DIRECTION JESUS IS GOING.
   1. When Jesus walked among men, in which direction did He go? I don't mean according to the compass, but according to His heart. Where did Jesus go?
      1. He went toward human suffering. The demon possessed, blind, mute, deaf - He went to them. He never turned away in horror or disgust. He was moved, and is moved, by human infirmity.
      2. He went toward the sinful. Those ignored or despised by the religious leaders found a Friend in Jesus. He was jeeringly called, "a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Luke 7:34 (NIV). That insult unknowingly captured a great truth.
      3. He went toward the hated and outcast.
         1. In John's Gospel we see that on one occasion He had to go through Samaria - He didn't shun the hated Samaritans as unworthy and useless. He offered salvation to the woman at the well and her friends from the village.
         2. Detested and forsaken lepers were welcomed and cleansed.
      4. He went toward the way of service. Paul said of Jesus that, "although He existed in the form of God, [He] did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant," Philippians 2:7 (NASB). He released His heavenly prerogative and equality to God to become a servant among us.
      5. He went toward the way of sacrifice. He set His face resolutely to go to Jerusalem and the cross. He didn't take the way of self preservation. He submitted His will to that of the Father and to the need of mankind.
   2. To walk in His steps means going that direction, too. The hymn says, "My Master was a comrade, A trusty friend and true,And he who would be like Him, Must be a comrade, too. In happy hour of singing, In silent hours of care, Where goes a loyal comrade, The Master's man is there. My Master was a helper, The woes of life He knew, And he who would be like HimMust be a helper, too. The burden will grow lighter, If each will take a share, And where there is a helper, The Master's man is there. Then, brothers brave and manly, Together let us be, For He, who is our Master, The Man of men was He. The men who would be like Him Are wanted everywhere, And where they love each other The Master's men are there." [William G. Tarrant].
   3. Going the same direction Jesus is going
      1. Is what discipleship is all about. It means sharing His successes, His joys, His sorrows, His privations. When Jesus went somewhere, His disciples went with Him: to human need, to prayer, to service and to cross bearing. They left their nets, their tax tables, their vocations, their own wills to go the same way Jesus went. So must all who would walk in His steps.
      2. Is what repentance is all about. Formerly we went the way of the world, and Satan, and illicit human desires. Now we have done an about face and go His way, away from sin and toward God. Here's how Paul put it to the crowd at Lystra, "We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, Who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them." Acts 14:15 (NIV).
   4. A man was struggling with a heavy couch when another man came along and offered to help. They pushed and pulled and groaned and sweated. The would-be helper said, "That couch is a lot heavier than I thought. We'll never get it into the house." The first man said, "Get it in? I was trying to get it out!" It would have worked better if they were both going the same way.
2. IT MEANS WALKING THERE AFTER JESUS
   1. f there are foot steps, it means He has already walked there. He is our forerunner; He is the pioneer. He is the Trailblazer (but He's on a winning Trailblazer team!)
   2. Think of it:
      1. You will never have to go where He has not first gone.
      2. You will never have to fear what lies ahead, because Jesus is already there.
      3. You will never have to chart your own unknown course, because He has already opened the right course for you.
      4. You will never be misled or taken into pathways that are disastrous.
      5. You will never be led to a place where the Grace and Mercy of God will not keep you.
   3. I don't know about you, but I am an impatient man. I sometimes know where I want to go, and what I want to do, and I try to run ahead of Jesus. I sometimes feel like saying, "Come on! Hurry! Let's get a move on!" But Jesus' command is to take up a cross and follow Him. Not lead Him; not run ahead of Him; not try to beat Him in a sprint. Follow. He knows the way.
   4. A father and son were driving down a lonely road as a blinding snow storm began to fall. Unable to see, the father pulled to the side of the road. He saw off in the distance the lights of a farmhouse. The lights were a beacon of hope and the man turned to his son and said, "There's no use going on. We need to cross the field to that house. The snow's getting deep and I don't want you to get far from me." The boy took his father's hand and said with a smile, "It will be okay daddy, if I can just walk in your footsteps, I'll find my way." If you walk in Jesus' footsteps, you'll find your way.
3. IT MEANS BEING IN AGREEMENT WITH JESUS:
   1. The Old Testament prophet, Amos asks, "Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" Amos 3:3 (NLT). Agreeing with Jesus means acknowledging that He is right and the way He leads is the right way. Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB).
   2. We all agree with someone or something.
      1. Too many are of the herd mentality. They uncritically follow the herd of which they're a part. They believe whatever most people believe whether it's true or not. Peter wrote, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." 2 Peter 2:1-2 (NIV).
      2. Too many look around until they find a teacher or preacher who tells it like they like it, more than one who tells it like it is. "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT).
      3. Too many allow their feelings, emotions, and personal opinions to form their belief. Solomon said, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." Proverbs 16:25 (NLT).
      4. Too many think that whatever a person believes is okay as long as they are sincere and zealous in believing it. But sincerity does not create truth. A lie believed is still a l lie. Sincerity is not enough; zeal is insufficient in itself. "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge." Romans 10:1-2 (NIV).
   3. We often think it would be great if He would always agree with us. That He would do whatever we request, give us whatever we want, take us wherever we want to go. But to walk in His steps, we must agree with Him. His way, our way; His will, our will; His desire, our desire; His choice, our choice; His mind, our mind; His heart, our heart.
   4. At a meeting of several ministers, a Pastor Johnson was talking with another minister about some issue. They were not agreeing, and Pastor Johnson said, "Well, you know, Jesus says ...." and before he could finish, the other minister hit the table and said, "I don't care what Jesus says! I think ....." and he went on to express his anti-Scriptural position. During one discussion with my own minister in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I said, "Well, Lee, the Bible says ...", and he said to me, "Well, you can't always go by what the Bible says." Oh, yes you can! And we'd better care what Jesus says! It makes the difference of opposing Him or walking in His steps.

L. C. Voke wrote, "Walking with Jesus, by His side I'll stay. Walking with Jesus in the narrow way. Traveling along together day by day; Walking in the King's highway." Jeremiah got it right, saying, "I know, Lord, that a person's life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course." Jeremiah 10:23 (NLT). Walking in Jesus' steps leads us on the path of righteousness; it leads us to the path of service; it leads us to the path of the cross; but it leads us to life abundant and free, with the promise and prospect of heaven. Let it be your desire, dedication, determination and decision to walk with Jesus from this day forth. That's safe and wise, because as our song says, "All the way my Savior leads me."

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