Walking In The Footsteps Of Our Saviour

^"21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³ 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. ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:21-25).

Christ is our example (1 Peter 2:21). This is more than a general instruction to walk in Christ's footsteps. It's a specific directive to imitate him in his sufferings. We are not to copy him or reproduce his sufferings. He suffered for us (1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 2:24). We can never repeat his sufferings. We benefit from them. His suffering is redemptive. He suffered for our salvation. The call to be imitators of Christ who, like sheep, went astray, and then, returned to the Shepherd of their souls (1 Peter 2:25). The example is the Shepherd. We are to follow in the steps of the Shepherd. This is more than imitation. We are becoming more like Christ, on the basis of his death for us. On this basis alone, we are able to walk in his steps. We do not walk on a path which will, eventually lead to communion with Christ No! We walk on this path only because of the communion with Christ we have enjoyed since the beginning of our faith. This fellowship with God is the gift of God's grace. This grace of God is the basis for all our Christian living - living on the basis of Christ's redemption.