THE PATH WE ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW

Shalom!

May the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be praised. Today, let us thoughtfully consider the spiritual path we are called to walk—a path already walked by Christ Himself.

Imagine being lost in a wilderness with no guide in sight. You look around and find no one. But then you look down and see a trail of footprints leading in a certain direction. Naturally, you begin to follow them, because you believe they will lead you to the one who went ahead. This image powerfully reflects our Christian journey.

Jesus Christ is no longer physically present on earth—He now reigns in heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). But in His earthly life, He left behind footsteps, a way of life we are called to follow. If we truly walk as He walked, we will arrive where He is: in the presence of God, seeing Him face to face (1 John 3:2).

What Are These Footsteps?

The Apostle Peter describes this calling with great clarity:

1 Peter 2:20–23 (NIV)

“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.
‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.’
When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”

These verses summarize the core ethic of Christian discipleship: we are not merely saved by Christ—we are called to imitate Him in our conduct. He is our model of righteousness, humility, and endurance under suffering.

Why Is This Important?

We live in a fallen world where retaliation and pride are seen as strength. Yet Jesus shows us a different kind of power—the power of meekness, forgiveness, and love in the face of evil. This is not weakness; it is divine strength restrained for the sake of salvation.

Jesus could have destroyed His enemies in a moment. He said so Himself:

Matthew 26:53 (NIV)

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

Yet He chose restraint. Why? Because His mission was not to judge the world, but to save it:

John 3:17 (NIV)

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

If Jesus lived this way, should we not do the same? To follow Him is to embrace a life that rejects revenge and clings to righteousness, even when it costs us something.

Beware of False Footsteps

Today, many voices tell us to “love those who love you and hate those who don’t.” These sound like common-sense rules for self-protection, but they contradict the Gospel.

Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

The world promotes self-defense, but Jesus calls us to self-denial. He told us that the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life—and few find it (Matthew 7:13–14). Following Christ means walking against the tide of worldly thinking.

We must be cautious not to think we’re wiser than Christ or try to improve on His method. Some even believe that gentleness is outdated or that turning the other cheek is impractical. But Christ’s way is the only way that leads to eternal life.

The Disciples Also Struggled to Understand This

Even Jesus’ closest disciples struggled with this truth. When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy them:

Luke 9:54–56 (NIV)

“When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’
But Jesus turned and rebuked them.
Then He and His disciples went to another village.”

Jesus rebuked their desire for destruction and reminded them of His true mission—to save souls, not destroy them. This is the heart of Christ. His mercy outweighs judgment.

The Calling is Personal and Eternal

To walk in Jesus’ steps is not merely a good idea—it’s a calling. He saved us to transform us, and that transformation is seen most clearly in how we respond to suffering, rejection, and injustice.

When we choose love over hate, patience over anger, forgiveness over revenge—we follow His footsteps. And the end of that path is glory.

Romans 8:17 (NIV)

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”

Final Encouragement

May the Lord open our eyes to recognize His path and give us the courage to walk in it daily. The way of Christ is not easy, but it is the only way that leads to life.

Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!

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