Key verse: 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps,” (NKJV).

Following the footprints of Christ is committing to walk in the ways of Christ. Apostle Peter told us in 1 Peter 2:21 that Christ left believers on earth as an example to follow in His steps. The word “example” (hupogrammos) means that as believers, we should be committed to copying Jesus’ every movement. Our lifestyle should reflect Christ and everything we do should exalt the name of Jesus. The word “follow” means to carefully follow after someone with the goal to replicate what he or she does. It depicts a person so committed to imitating another person that he is willing to follow him exactly and to do whatever he does. This is a picture of true discipleship.

The word “epakoloutheo” could only describe a person who is very serious about replicating someone else’s life in his own.

The call to replicate the life of Jesus is a call that God has given to every child of God. We are called as Christians to imitate the life of Jesus in our own lives. The word “steps” is the Greek word “ichnos,” a word that really means footprints. It is like leaving footprints in the sand at the beach. It is the picture of us putting our feet exactly where Jesus first placed His feet, stepping in His very footprints and following His actions in every circumstance we face.

We must ardently follow Christ with the goal of replicating His life in ours. We must be so committed to follow Him that we step in His very footprints. This means we must learn to walk in Jesus’ steps, even if it seems His stride — His standard, His example, His way of living and loving and forgiving — seems much bigger than the level we’re used to walking in right now. We must be committed to leap from one footprint of the Master to the next until we have learned to easily match His stride and keep the pace He set while He walked the earth. This must have been very encouraging for the early believers who were suffering so many injustices at the hands of the Roman government and pagan communities. By following the footprints of Jesus, it made it easier for them to know what to do, how to act, what to say, what they shouldn’t say, and so on. Jesus’ footprints were right there in the four gospels — all they had to do was read them and then do what Jesus had done when He was in a situation similar to theirs. No one was ever more mistreated than Jesus. When soldiers spat on Him, Pilate scourged Him, religious leaders laughed at Him, and He was even betrayed by His own disciples, He continued to walk in love and forgave them all. He set the chief example about how we should respond when we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control.

Jesus has laid out the path in front of us to follow. He is the standard that we must follow and pattern our lives after.

In case you are not following in His steps, you need to re-pattern your steps after Him. Our identity as Christians is inseparably connected to the person and the work of Jesus. We should learn more about Him; we should draw closer to Him and we should want to be more like Him.

• Today’s nugget: We should want to be more like Christ. Prayer: Lord help me to be like Jesus. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected]. Rev. Abel UkachiAmadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria