Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1079
To Walk, Even As He Walked
by Larry Ray Hafley
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself to walk, even as he walked" (1 Jn. 2:6). "As we have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him" (Col. 2:6). "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). These are but a few of the passages that encourage and exhort Christians to imitate the matchless Master, the sinless Son of God. These admonitions should not be dismissed without regard. Therefore, let us examine steps wherein we must "walk even as he walked."
(1)In Love: Every act of Christ was motivated by love. How joyful would be this life if all were to respond accordingly! Often, however, Christians are led by spite and vengeance and by selfishness and covetousness. Nothing could be further from the footprints of Jesus than those base passions. "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor" (Eph. 5:1, 2).
Ponder this for a moment. Have you recently acted toward others from an attitude of love or from personal, fleshly lusts and desires?
(2)In Humility: Jesus served not himself. He came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:26-28). "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (Jas. 4:6). Greater humility would end much of the strife that separates brethren, but proud looks and arrogant eyes are not easily disposed. "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility" (Prov. 18:12).
The fruit of humility is sown in them that are gentle and gracious and firm and fair. Humility quietly adorns the character as the dew drapes the grass of the field. It is not an ostentatious flair. It is "the hidden man of the heart,...a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Pet. 3:4).
(3)In Temptation: "Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Heb. 1:9). Christ abhorred evil. He did not merely keep himself aloof from it, but he hated it! His whole nature was ever in active warfare with it. We must arm ourselves "likewise with the same mind" (1 Pet. 4:1). We cannot permit ourselves to be teased and tantalized by the tempter’s power. We must not dally with sin and expect to spurn it at the point of guilt, for then it will pull us over the precipice. Do not plan and ploy to "play footsie" with the devil and expect to wind up kissing the Savior’s feet. It cannot be done. "Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned" (Prov. 6:27).
(4)In Obedience: Our Lord’s motto was, "Thy will be done." "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:8, 9). Christians must strive to emulate and imitate the submission and subjection of Christ. As our souls are purified in obedience , so our reward is certified, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:36).
Obedience is tried when our will is in conflict with God’s. Can we, will we, do we obey when our "druthers" are not God’s designs? Again, Jesus is our model. Paul said, "even Christ pleased not himself." How did he develop this selflessness? "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (Jn. 6:38). He purposed to please his Father, and the challenge to us is "to walk even as he walked."
Conclusion: If in love, humility, temptation, and obedience we sincerely seek to follow the footprints of Jesus, our lives will be "a light that shineth in a dark place." It may sound trite, but to ask what Jesus would have done in a given situation is another way of saying, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him (Col. 2:6).
