Scripture

It is to this you have been called: because Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you an example so you should follow in His steps.

~1 Peter 2:21, Wetmouth

Quote

We can love Jesus, serve Him, obey Him, and even worship Him; but we cannot immitate Him.

~Ya’akov

Back in the 19th century, a pastor by the name of Charles M. Sheldon wrote an inspirational classic entitled “In His Steps.” It was probably thirty years ago that I read it and from this book came the theme question, “What Would Jesus Do.” Some of you remember it was popular some 25-30 years ago and they even had bracelets with WWJD stamped on them. If I am not mistaken, and I may be, it is about a man who made himself poor to identify with the homeless and poor and went to a small town in Kansas. The point of the novel is to make us aware of the needs of our fellowman and to respond in a Christlike way. I have also read Thomas A. Kempis, IMMITATIONS OF CHRIST, which is good for devotional reading.

Just the title, IN HIS STEPS, is challenging to me. I want to follow Jesus, I surely do, but in no way am I capable of doing what He did. Peter goes into a litany of praise related to Jesus suffering on our behalf. It is a wonderful passage in the Weymouth bible. I think it will refresh you to hear it or read it again. Jesus never sinned, He never told a lie. He never attempted to decieve anyone. He had no guile. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, although He had the power to crush any who opposed Him. He committed it all into the hands of the Father, the righteous Judge. He bore our sins in Himself on the cross so that we would not suffer separation from God due to our sin and so that we to could become holy. It was by His wounds that we were healed.

Following Jesus is not like following some earthy mortal leader. Jesus is God. He is a cut above. We worship and adore Him because He is worthy. No human, no matter how committed, will ever accomplish what Jesus accomplished. Yes, were are to serve HIM and it is His will that we serve others but it cannot be IMMITATED. If He could, He would not be the unique Son of God.

Extra

Cindy Seaver’s foot surgery went great yesterday, PTL. Keith’s dad, Billy Turney is being moved to Summerford today. Beautiful weather yesterday. I got to do a lille garden work. Hopefully a little more before the rain gets here but I am not complaining, we need the rain.

I hope you have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.

Extra/Extra

I’ve been writing for years and with my memory, I can’t remember a tenth of what I have written. Our oldest daughter Hannah has been going through her treasures and I reckon she kept everything. She has sent me three or four articles I wrote on grand kids. They were from the DIGEST which is not on line. You can find the link to many of these on the list at the bottom of the blog. The SOAPBOX articles are about personal friends and politics. The Screwtape Letters is a rewrite of the Screwtape letters in my own words. It is unedited and full of mistakes. The Top Ten list are endless. I use to do one a week. Hannah sent me one of those last night: it was hilarious. I know most of you don’t have the time but if you like to read, there is plenty on the sight. A TOASTE TO SCREWTAPE is also in the archives. It is all Lewis, a reprint, not a rewrite. The man was a prophet.