Walking in His Paths of Righteousness (11 views) Subscribe   
  From:  David (DavidABrown)    Jan-25 9:42 am  
To:  ALL   (1 of 2)  
 
  781.1  
 
Daily Devotional for January 22, 2004 
http://www.dailyintheword.org/archives.asp?id=27

Walking in His Paths of Righteousness 

by Dr. Paul Chappell 

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - I Peter 2:21-25 

I love this passage for several reasons. First it tells us that Christ left us an example that we may "follow in his steps", but also reminds us how Christ bore our own sins while he hung on the cross so that we could live unto righteousness! This passage also shows a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:5 when it says "by whose stripes ye were healed." 

Jesus Christ left a perfect example of how we should live our lives. Notice that His steps were the steps of righteousness. The Bible says in verse 22, "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." Someone might say, "Well, I might as well forget it. There is no way I can walk in the steps of righteousness and be perfect." You're right. There is not one perfect Christian. But there are some Christians who are becoming more like the Son of God as they endeavor to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ outlined in the Word of God. 

For example, the Bible says in I John 3:6, "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not." As we are abiding in Christ, as we are considering His will for our lives, we are not sinning so long as we are yielding to Him. The times when we find ourselves in sin and despair are those times when we are yielding to the lust of the flesh, rather than abiding and indwelling in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Psalmist said in Psalm 1:1, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." There is no way you can receive counsel from ungodly men and women and still walk in the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have a desire to walk in the steps of righteousness, you must be abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ and avoiding ungodly counsel. Therefore, we must find ourselves surrounded by godly influences. 

I have observed that each of us, whether we be church people, elected officials, or pastors, are nothing more than the reflection of the people we surround ourselves with. One of the most important decisions a president ever will make is who will be in his cabinet. They will directly influence his philosophy. Your friends are a vital group of people who will either help you build, or pull you away from a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, in His steps, walked righteously. We can walk righteously as we abide in Him and walk in the counsel of godly men. 

The Bible says His steps were blameless. There was no guile found in His mouth. Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." If you follow Jesus, you can live a good life because He wants to lead you in the paths of righteousness; not for our glory, but for His name's sake. 

In the Antarctic summer of 1908, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. 

Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food -- elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, and sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus also knew the ravages of food deprivation from fasting in the wilderness. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus tells us "Blessed are they which do who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." We can understand Shackleton's obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness and the filling sensation of walking in His righteousness! 

Will you let Jesus take your hand and lead your life today, this week, this month? You must decide to abide with Him, yield to His spirit, and follow the counsel of godliness rather than ungodliness. Seek the paths of righteousness, and then you'll begin to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ. 

Daily Devotional for January 22, 2004 

http://www.dailyintheword.org/archives.asp?id=27



David A. Brown
Basic Christian: Forum
www.BasicChristian.org

 
  
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   From:  joyinexpressible (pamwitzemann)   Jan-27 11:24 am  
To:  David (DavidABrown)    (2 of 2)  
 
  781.2 in reply to 781.1  
 
David, 
I think our closest relationship should be to the Lord and the person we reflect should be Him. If our walk is as it should be then we are able to be around people who are less than what they ought to be without it harming us. Instead, we can reflect Jesus to them. Don't forget that Jesus ate and drank with sinners and we are to follow his footsteps. 

That doesn't mean that I think Christian Fellowship should be forsaken. It shouldn't but it should also be true Christian fellowship. Fellowship that shares Christ and what He is doing in our lives not just fried chicken or pie. 

Pam
 
  
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