Nov
9
2013
Footsteps
Posted in Discipleship 2 Comments
Going through old photographs, I came across it.
I remember it like yesterday.
Our oldest son following his dad with his little Fisher Price lawn mower.
The mower that you could put bubble liquid inside to make bubbles as you went along.
The mower that never had bubble liquid inside since Daddy’s mower didn’t have bubbles.
Footsteps.
Following the one that goes before.
My husband had a hat; my son had a hat.
My husband went across the lawn one way and back across the other way.
My son made the same horizontal stripes with his mower.
I don’t think I thought of the significance at the time.
I just captured the moment in time.
There is a photograph of one of my girls in my high heel shoes.
One of my pocketbooks flung over her shoulder.
My wide brim hat on her head; oblivious to the camera.
Time frozen with the push of a button.
Imitation.
Following.
Walking behind the one in front of you.
Did you ever notice a family walking together?
They all walk alike; they carry themselves the same way.
Did you ever notice a family in conversation?
Their mannerisms, the inflection of their voice, and even their laugh are the same.
We have to be so careful where we put our feet.
We are not walking alone.
Our steps matter to the ones that are following us.
We think we are the trailblazers, but we come behind someone as well.
Hopefully, the footsteps we followed were good footsteps that walked in good places.
Sometimes the only path we know is muddy and overgrown with weeds.
Thankfully that is not our only path.
We must brush away the overgrowth in order to see a clear way before us.
Brushing away the overgrowth is hard work.
Years and years of negligence have allowed those tenacious weeds to hang on.
Every garden can be cleared.
Every life can follow a new path.
It would be nice if weeding our gardens took care of our weed problem.
Often by the end of the day, we will inevitably see a tiny weed poking through.
Weeds come back.
Perseverance and determination will keep them under control.
So it is with our life.
We all followed someone.
We don’t have to become the person we followed.
Change is possible.
New life takes over once the debris is removed.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Paul knew how important it is to be a good leader.
Paul knew that the authority of a true leader comes from God.
God’s mercies are new every morning.
Great is His faithfulness.
Every morning is a fresh day to stop taking control, submit, and follow our leader, Jesus.
We know that Jesus’ footsteps are exemplary; perfect.
Yoked with Jesus, we eventually stop trying to do it our way and walk in step with Him.
Jesus gave us directions about following Him in His Word.
If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)
What if we told people that to follow Jesus meant to come and die?
Die to self.
Die to possessions.
Die to anything we elevate above Him.
Come and die does not sound pretty.
Come and die does not sound appealing.
Come and die so you can really live!
The paradox of following.
Being the kind of leader who is a follower.
A follower of Jesus.
You do not have to follow the muddy path you have always known.
Come to Jesus.
Through His death and resurrection, He has cleared away the debris.
Can you see the path before you as He pushes back the weeds of this world?
Walk so closely with Him that after a while you begin to walk like Him.
Speak His Words, so the inflection of your voice is His; your mannerisms are His.
It is vitally important to know the One you are following.
Come to Jesus.
Follow His footsteps all the way to Home.
Beautifully written! What a wonderful reminder to wake up to this morning and start my day off with! 🙂
Melissa,
I am delighted that you were blessed.
It was a reminder to me as well.
Gina