“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:”
that you should follow His steps
God wants us to emulate the character and conduct of Christ.
“Follow” means to follow after, follow close upon. The implication is that we are to comply closely with the life of Christ. We should put our lives in conjunction with Christ. God wants us to go the same way as Jesus (Mk. 8:34; 9:38; 10:21). We should make our lives happen along with his, to accompany him along the journey. The implication is that we are to follow Christ wholly or to devote ourselves to him. God wants us to give Jesus our whole heart. God wants us to take the same road as Jesus. He wants us to follow closely upon his path.
“Steps” means tracks. We are to follow the tracks of Christ. Our behavior should be the same as his. Let us imitate him. We do not do as others do; we do as he does. The New Testament uses the word “steps” of Abraham’s faith (Rom. 4:12) and for carrying on the work of the Gospel (2 Cor. 12:18). We are to take the same road as Christ of applying the truth of unjust suffering to experience.
Note that this passage does not say “follow in his steps.” It merely says, “follow his steps.” God wants us to go in the same direction he went (Heb. 12:1-4). We get our signals from him. He sets the example for us to follow (Ro. 15:3).
PRINCIPLE:
God wants us to copy Christ and reproduce his character in our lives.
APPLICATION:
When the Christian suffers insult with uncomplaining steadfastness, he shows the life of Christ to others.
Christians sometimes meet a spiritual pygmy. They then go back to back with them and say, “I have outgrown them spiritually.” Yes, but they measure themselves by a spiritual dwarf.
Instead of measuring yourself by a spiritual dwarf, why not measure yourself by a spiritual giant – Jesus Christ? Back up to the Lord Jesus and measure yourself by him. Then we will realize how far we have to grow in grace. His spiritual reflexes were perfect. Anyone measured up against him is mighty small. We expect sheep to follow the Shepherd, not other sheep.
If we do something wrong at work, how do we react? Is there any difference in the way we respond from the way those who do not know Christ? If our reaction is different from theirs, they will sit up and take notice. We have something that they do not have. This has a great influence on non-Christians. However, this is precisely where we fail before our wives, husbands, children, parents, and business associates.
