3-15-15- In His Steps

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.  (1 Peter 2:21)

Thoughts: To walk in His steps is to follow after Christ.  This passage implies follow after Christ even if that following involves suffering.  To think that there is no suffering in life- that it is an illusion (maya in Hinduism), or is meaningless gives no hope at all.  But to know whose steps we are following and that these not only lead to the cross (Lk. 9:23) but also to the resurrection and the fulfillment of our hope.
     We cannot think of this verse without thinking of Charles Sheldon.  Sheldon began his career in a Topeka Kansas newspaper that printed 12,000 copies a day.  He would always ask the question during and at the end of his articles, "What would Jesus do?"  The circulation of the newspaper went up to almost 400,000!  Later his articles and sermons were turned into a classic Christian book called "In His Steps" published in 1896 with 30 million copies sold (one of the best sellers of all time).   In the 1990s and even today many wear a bracelet that says "WWJD?"  Thomas A'Kempis (1380-1471) similarly wrote "The Imitation of Christ."   To follow in His steps means to live like Him and to say, as Jesus did, "Not my will but yours be done."  Of course there is no perfect discerning of Christ's will in each situation, and of course we bring our past and subjective views into everything- but of course- we have to live somehow.  This question is a good guide to the way of love.  

Prayer: Help me to imitate you.  Send your Holy Spirit to inspire and guide me to walk in your way.