Follow in His Steps
Scripture
“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
‘He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed.
Once you were like sheep who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.’”
—1 Peter 2:21–25 (NLT)
Peter reminds us here that if we call ourselves Christians, followers of Jesus, then we are called to walk in His footsteps. Jesus is not only our Savior. He is also our example, and that means our aim in life should be to live like Him. Peter begins by saying that God has called us to do good, even if it means suffering. Simple to say. Not always easy to live.
But this is the calling. To be people who bring God’s goodness into the world through our actions, even when that goodness costs us something. Peter paints the picture for us by pointing to Jesus. He never sinned. He never deceived. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, and He did not seek revenge when He suffered. Instead He entrusted Himself to God, the one who always judges justly. This is what it looks like to live as a citizen of the Kingdom rather than the world. Jesus is not just modeling personal virtue. He is showing us the upside-down values of a Kingdom where strength is found in restraint and victory is found in trust rather than retaliation.
“He who best knoweth how to suffer shall possess the most peace; that man is conqueror of himself and lord of the world, the friend of Christ, and the inheritor of heaven.”¹
— Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Kempis names a paradox that runs straight through this passage. The path to peace is not around suffering but through it, following the same pattern Jesus walked. Although we all fall short, we should make a conscious, daily effort to live like Him. Why? Because He died for our sins, not just to forgive us, but to free us. Peter says He bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we could be dead to sin and live for what is right. His wounds have brought us healing, not just physical or emotional healing, but spiritual restoration and wholeness.
And as we are healed and made whole, we are called to be instruments of that same healing in the world. Just like Jesus, we are to respond to insult with grace, to injustice with trust in God’s timing, and to pain with a heart still set on doing good. We were once like wandering sheep, but now we follow our Shepherd. And as we follow Him, we represent Him to a lost and dying world.
Reflection:
- In what areas of your life is God calling you to do good, even when it is difficult or costly?
- How can you more intentionally follow the example of Jesus in how you respond to mistreatment or hardship?
- What would it look like for you to become a vessel of healing in someone else’s life today?
Prayer:
Thank Jesus for being both your Savior and your example. Ask Him to help you walk in His steps, responding with grace, choosing what is right, and trusting Him to judge justly. Pray for the strength to bring His healing, mercy, and goodness into a hurting world.
Footnote:
¹ Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (London: Penguin Classics, 1952).