Jump Start # 1839

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

Our verse today is such a simple concept. Follow the leader. Follow the example. Paul expressed this many times. In 1 Cor 4:16, “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” He told the Philippians, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.” The Hebrews were told, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith” (13:7).

God is not interested in originality. Those who want to blaze their own trails much too often leave the Bible pattern to do that. That never impresses God. He wants us to follow Christ. He wants us to follow those who have followed Christ. And before us are all kind of footprints.

First, there are the divine footprints of the Lord. We see Jesus through the Gospels. We take note of how He conducted Himself. We see how He taught. We see His compassion. We learn. We change and become. We forgive as He has forgiven us. We reach out as He taught in lessons like the good Samaritan. The best example is always Jesus.

Second, there are footprints of the men and women we read about in the Bible. We see both good and foolish choices. These stories leave footprints that lead to God’s approval or God’s disappointment. The farmer who tore down his barns, is more than a story, it’s a series of footprints of a selfish man who died without God. Those same steps and those same attitudes bring the same disappointment today. We see the steps of a couple like Priscilla and Aquila who heard Apollos preach. Apollos wasn’t fully accurate with his message. He didn’t mention anything about baptism in Christ. Instead of walking away and telling others. Instead of threatening him, this couple took him aside and explained and taught Apollos. That took courage, hope and confidence. They have left footprints for us to follow as well. Taking cheap shots as one walks out the church door is not the footprints that they left. We can do better.

Third, there are footprints of Christians we have known. For many of us, our parents, grandparents have left us amazing footprints of dedication, commitment and faithfulness to the Lord. They walked with the Lord. They sacrificed. They hung in there in difficult times. They showed us how to do the same. It often wasn’t easy for them but they knew what was right and there was no turning them.

We have known others in our life who were amazingly great examples. Christians were worked hard. Christians who were patient with others. Those who taught and taught the word of God. Those who were the glue that held a congregation together. They opened up their homes for hospitality and singings. When we were just starting out in our journey, they encouraged us. They opened the door for many of us who are preaching today. Our first lessons. Our first classes. Our first bulletin articles. All these came about because of older Christians who believed in us and gave us a chance. They were the ones who patted us on our backs. They were the ones who praised us. They gave us books. They gave us their time. We are where we are today because of the many great Christians who helped us. Many of these folks have moved on to be with the Lord, but their memory and their faith is precious and dear to us today.

Fourth, we are leaving footprints ourselves. We may not realize this but we are. There are others, younger in the faith, who now see us. There are those in the world that we work with and live among that see us everyday. They see our attitudes. They see our choices. Without any words being spoken, they notice. They see. There are footprints that are either leading toward Christ or away from Him.

Peter mentions this in the role of marriage. The non Christian husband was convinced by the “behavior of their wives” (1 Pet 3:1). It doesn’t happen just in one day. But a steady, consistent pattern. Living the message at home as well as in worship. Not compromising. Not being ugly. However, being faithful first to the Lord. A life of forgiveness. A life of grace. A life of joy. A life that encourages. These choices are noticed and they effect others. They are footprints. They are remembered.

This is what often brings us to a funeral. It’s not what a person owned. It is who they were. We remember their kindness. We remember their helpfulness. We remember their faithfulness to the Lord. Those things caught our attention. They were noticed and they were remembered by us.

So in your home, this is the first place that evangelism takes place. Your children grow up seeing you, hearing you and watching you. Are you the same at home as in the public? Are you the same at home as you are on Sunday? Are your footprints clear and all going the same direction or does it seem like you are walking around in circles. Sometimes you are here and sometimes you are there. They will see that.

Your wrong and bad choices, leave footprints. These are hard to overcome. These may be remembered more than your good footprints. A moment when your mouth gets the best of you. A time when your lost your cool. A time when you did some wrong things. You went out drinking with friends. You allowed lust to conquer you and you committed fornication. Those footprints are there. Others may have seen them that you were not even aware of. The school authorities. The police. The medical staff at a hospital. They may have known that you were drunk or you had a baby and you were not married. They witnessed the consequences of your choices. Now, they too know. Footprints are left every day. They are nothing more than impressions people have of us.

All of this shoots down the idea of “it’s my life and I can do what I want.” First, this isn’t true as a Christian. It’s not your life. Not anymore. You gave it to Christ. You belong to the Lord. And, beyond that, you are leaving examples. Others notice. They see that you are two-faced or that you are true. You go to church, but outside you act no different than the world. You bend the rules to your favor. You live as if you are the king of the universe. People notice. And those that really know you, see confusing footprints. You do all these things, yet you go to church on Sunday. They see through that.

But on the other hand, when a person is living consistently for the Lord, that too is noticed. He is one that people turn to, because ‘he’ll tell the truth.’ He is known for being fair, right and walking with the Lord. You see one set of footprints, and they lead directly to Jesus. Folks may not agree with him, but they honor his dedication, and love for the Lord.

Footprints—everyday you leave some. Everywhere you leave some. Your words. Your actions. Your integrity. Your heart. These all shape the direction that your footprints point to. It’s easy to talk a good game, but to walk it, and to walk it every single day, that makes all the difference.

Growing up, one of my favorite hymns was “Footprints of Jesus.” I still like that simple song. I will follow the footprints of Jesus, wherever they go.

Following footprints and leaving our own footprints…

Roger