HIS STEPS. 1st Peter 2:21-22 Enduring injustice for the kingdom of God is part of God’s plan for Christians who live in the world but are not “of the world.” Suffering for doing what is right was exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ during His time on earth. He was treated unjustly, despised, and rejected by those He sought to bless because He did what was good for those around Him without prejudice or partiality. The suffering Savior was the true Servant of Jehovah who endured unjust suffering “to bring us to God.” That is what we are called to do now for the sake of those who need to be brought to God.
Our attitude and actions are to be like His as closely as possible. The “example” is to follow in His steps to glorify God and bless others. God allows suffering and uses it for our good, giving us a look into the value of people’s souls. We can benefit others when we “follow in His steps.” The Lord Jesus endured suffering so that the plans of God would be accomplished.
It is a part of life we would like to do without – injustice is frustrating when it persists. But it should not surprise us, for we are called to follow the Lord Jesus, who endured far more while He was in the world. At home, He was despised, a stranger to His brothers. In Nazareth, He found no honor; He was treated worse than others. It is no surprise when the same things happen to me if I am following His steps. That’s what I expect to see. It shouldn't cause resentment if I’m misunderstood. Not that I want it to happen; I would avoid it if I could. But the steps of the Lord are different; He walked a lonely path, and even when He blessed others, it brought their wrath down on Him.
The example is clear and plain. Righteousness in the lives of believers shows the standards that God expects people to live by. Peter had learned those lessons by following the Lord during the three years of His ministry and by applying what he learned in areas of life he had never experienced before. He saw God’s healing power at work through him. He personally saw the impact of the Gospel on those convicted of their sin and guilt who rejected the Lord. Through him, the Lord opened the door of the Gospel to the Gentiles when he went to the home of an earnest seeker. He saw the work of God prospering in assemblies through his labors and those of others God called to serve and suffer.
I know we live different lives from others, often even those of our own family, but our Sundays are for God. Others think it strange that we keep that day set for the Lord. When we travel far, we want to meet with the believers, and even though the language is strange, the saints gladly receive us. His steps went where God wanted to bring others divine blessing. My steps, too, should go where God’s will, to which I am committed, is pleased. His steps led to suffering, so I should not be surprised if I, too, am rejected because I dare not hide God’s truth. His steps went where God wanted to bring others divine blessing. My steps, too, should go where God’s will, to which I am committed, leads. His steps led to suffering, so I should not be surprised if I, too, am rejected because I dare not hide God’s truth. His steps led to death; I am not sure where mine will lead. But this I know; it is right when His calling I heed. His example is plain; it was for God’s glory that He came here to earth. I am here on earth at the present, so for my God I will do the same.
His steps led to death; I am not sure where mine will lead. But this I know; when His calling comes, I will heed it. A lesson for us is to have grace and peace multiplied through knowing how our Lord Jesus Christ lived, taught, and served His Father. He brought the message of salvation to others when He lived among them. He interacted with them, taught them, helped, and healed them.
A lesson for us is plain in His example; He came to earth for God’s glory. We need to keep as close as possible to the example He left us, for our safety and for the blessings we may pass on to others in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am here on earth at present for God. I will seek to do the same.
Our Lord was impeccable in His nature and life, for He could not sin. We have a sinful nature, and despite the new nature imparted to us, we may still sin. But that is never to be normal living for a child of God. God's standard for our life and conduct remains sinlessness. Willful sin is never to be expected in our lives. We are to be in subjection to God's will and not consider disobedience to Him an option. The Lord Jesus not only did not sin and could not sin, but there was nothing in His words that was not right and appropriate at the moment. He never retaliated against those who opposed Him. Neither should we. When He was insulted, He never returned insult. Neither should we. When He was subjected to physical suffering, He never threatened those who hurt Him. Neither should we. When He was in pain from thorns, nails, bones out of joint, a beaten back, and reproach and humiliation, He was still full of love and compassion. He committed everything to God, His Father. So should we. When we truly commit a matter to God, we can leave it there, knowing that in His own time and way, righteousness will prevail.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was sinless in His humanity; there has never been another sinless human. He was in His being; sin did not attract Him. He was sinless in His person; there was nothing He needed to cover. He was sinless in His speaking; there were no words needed for Him to retract. The Lord Jesus was sinless in His thinking, always delighting in doing His Father’s will. Every action He made was sinless; each act was planned to bless others and glorify the Father. He was sinless in rebuking the voices of evil, and He stilled their voices. Each step He made was in righteousness; He was sinless in His walk.
There was nothing that defiled in His sinless life. Every prayer He made was sinless in holy communion with His Father. His teaching was sinless with no implied innuendos. He was sinless in attitude toward the needy who gathered around Him. He was sinless when He was betrayed, falsely accused, abandoned, and forsaken. He showed no needless anger and was sinless in His deep anguish when His soul was in deep pain. He was sinless in His submission to the will of His Father and the feebleness of those who bound Him. Bringing blessing to the strangers to grace and to God, He was sinless in His humiliation, never retaliating.
Jesus was sinless when falsely accused because He had a purpose He must complete. Sinless when reproached for others, He took responsibility for our sins. Sinless when physically beaten, the pain inflicted on His body did not turn Him aside. Sinless when mocked by men, He endured all their cruelty. Sinless when He was falsely condemned, He spoke no word in self-defense. He was sinless when He was led as a lamb to the slaughter; He used no power to resist. Sinless when cruelly nailed to the cross, He looked into the soldier’s face without bitterness or anger. When hanging on the cross, He was sinless in every way until He dismissed His spirit, knowing He had accomplished everything that needed to be done to satisfy God and save us. He was sinless in the eternal past and will be sinless in the future. No sin could be charged to Him when He lived on earth. He is sinless in His priestly work; therefore, our acceptance is secure. He is sinless forevermore – Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.