In 1 John 2:6, John exhorts us:

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

As followers of Jesus, let’s consider what it looks like to do just that: to follow Christ’s example.

The foundation for walking in the footsteps of Christ is found in the preceding verse, 1 John 2:5, which says,

“But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him.”

To live as Jesus did, we must first abide in Christ. We must allow His Word to take root in our hearts and minds and transform the way we live. As a result, It is through this intimate connection with our Savior that we more deeply reflect His character and follow His example. As Jesus says in John 15:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Furthermore, as we abide in Christ, we will look more like Him. We will reflect the same fruits of the Spirit we see in Him throughout scripture. While there’s an endless number of virtues we see displayed in Christ, we’ll briefly look at a few below.

One of the hallmarks of Christ’s earthly ministry was His humility. The following two verses speak to this:

“Though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). 

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

He willingly set aside the privileges of Heaven to become a servant, washing His disciples’ feet, caring for the outcast, and ultimately sacrificing Himself on the cross.

Pray with us: Heavenly Father, make us more like Jesus. Help us put the needs of others before our own. Open our eyes to areas we may need to lay down our pride, ambition, and selfish desires. Help us to do so joyfully, knowing that “even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Furthermore, the Gospels are full of examples of Jesus’ deep compassion for the lost, the hurting, and the marginalized. In fact, he wept over the city of Jerusalem, longing for its people to turn to Him (Luke 19:41-44). He reached out to the outcast and the despised, offering them healing, restoration, and hope in Him.

Pray with us: Jesus, thank you for Your compassion. We see in Your word how often Your heart broke and was drawn to the hurting and the lonely. In our brokenness and loneliness, You came for us. Not only that but “while we were still sinners, [You] died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus, give us Your eyes as we interact with people. Help us display Your compassion to those You’ve placed in our lives.

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of walking in the footsteps of Christ is the call to holiness. Jesus was without sin, the perfect and spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19).

As His followers, we are called to pursue holiness (1 Peter 1:16, Ephesians 4:24, Hebrews 12:14).

This does not mean we can achieve sinless perfection in this life; that is why Christ came. However, in Christ, we are given power to put off the old self and put on the new.

“You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) 

Pray with us: God, Your word says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thank you for the righteousness we have in Christ. Help us, God, to walk in the reality of our new selves and to pursue lives of holiness, knowing that walking in Your ways is for our good and Your glory.

Ultimately, walking in the footsteps of Christ means embracing the mission that He has entrusted to us: to be His witnesses, to make disciples of all nations, and to bring the good news of the kingdom of God to a lost and hurting world.

To conclude, just as Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), we are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation, sharing the love and grace of God with those who do not yet know Him. This may mean stepping out of our comfort zones, just as Christ came after us, to share the gospel, to serve in our local communities, or to support mission efforts among the unreached. 

Pray with us: Heavenly Father, we ask for courage and boldness today. Help us to walk as Your ambassadors. We pray for opportunities to tell others about the hope we have in You. Help us to walk as You walked.

Amen.