I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked

“I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked!”

1 John 2:3-6 &1 Peter 2;19-24

David P. Nolte

A little girl was going outside with her father to build a snowman. As they walked, the little girl said, “Look, Daddy! I can step in your footprints and not get snow on my boots!”

She walked where Daddy walked. That made the father consider how important it was to watch his step since she would be following. He wanted to lead her in the right way of life.

Norm sang, “I walked today where Jesus walked,” He referenced some of the places Jesus visited. That walk brought a sense of the Presence of Jesus.

We all need to walk where Jesus walked. Not just in a geographical sense but in a spiritual sense. That’s not to suggest that going to the Holy Land and seeing the places He saw is a bad thing – but it is to say that everyday, wherever we are, we can walk where He walked. More importantly, we should walk where, and how, Jesus is walking today.

The Bible says, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 (NASB).

We also read, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:19-24 (NASB).

So, where did He walk that we should also walk? Where did Jesus walk, leaving us footprints to follow?

I. HE WALKED IN OBEDIENCE:

A. He suffered because He was obedient to the will of God. In Gethsemane He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39 (NASB);

B. We cannot truly claim to faith without obedience. “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

1. Obedience evidences love for Him because He said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NASB).

2. Obedience opens the door to salvation because it makes Him Lord. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9 (NLT).

3. Obedience is essential to receiving the Holy Spirit: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:30-32 (NASB).

4. Obedience glorifies God: “Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name.” Romans 1:5 (NLT).

C. Obedience comes from a humble heart — it is an inner decision with observable behavior. It goes beyond verbal promises to visible performance.

D. It’s like this: A man owned a warehouse. He had two sons, both of whom worked at the warehouse. He called the older boy and said, “Mark, I know it’s your day off, but I need you to work at the warehouse today.” Mark agreed to do so – but changed his mind and didn’t show up. Calls to his phone went unanswered. So dad called the younger boy, “Matthew, I know it’s your day off, but I really need you to help at the warehouse today.” Matthew begged off saying he had commitments. But he was conscience smitten and changed plans. He showed up at the warehouse much to dad’s delight. WHICH SON WAS PLEASING TO THE FATHER? DUH!