In His Steps

Every father desires to have his sons follow in his footsteps and even surpass his achievements. 

As believers, we have a heavenly Father whose utmost desire is for us to be like Him. Though we cannot see Him, He sent His Son Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, to reveal God to us. This means that for us to be like God we have to follow the footprints of Christ. 

Be imitators of God in everything you do,  for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters.

Ephesians 5:1; TPT

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.

Colossians 1:15; NLT

How can we do this? We have to become his disciples.

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Who is a Disciple?

A disciple is a follower or student who disciplines himself in the teachings and practices of another. It refers to someone who takes up the ways of someone else.

A disciple can also be referred to as an apprentice learning to be like his master.

When Jesus called His first disciples, He used these simple words, “Follow me.” A disciple of Christ is someone who, because of God’s awakening grace, conforms his or her words and ways to the words and ways of Jesus. These traits can only be apparent when the disciple is in an intimate relationship with Jesus.

This means that as children of God, our highest goal on earth is to be like Jesus Christ.

For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.

Romans 8:29 TPT‬

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How can we be like Him?

To be like Christ is an everyday and consistent thing. The more we spend time with Him, He rubs off on us. There is this song that fully explains what we need to do daily to be like Christ:

Day by Day
Oh dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love there more dearly
Follow thee more nearly

To see Him more clearly means that we are spending time seeking him daily to know Him more. Knowing Him means that we fully comprehend who He is and what He stands for. It also means an intimate knowledge of Him that daily shapes our experiences. 

Seek more of his strength! Seek more of him! Let’s always be seeking the light of his face.

Psalms 105:4 TPT‬

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Cor.3.18

Love Him more dearly – To be like Him we must love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength. He must become like the very air we breathe.

Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:36-37; NKJV

Follow Him more nearly – The character of a disciple is that they are following their master closely. Imitating Him so that they can become like Him.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matt.16.24; KJV

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch because they were imitators of Christ in their actions and disposition. As believers, our utmost desire should be to be like Christ, following His footsteps.

This is the way we can truly represent God in our different spheres of influence.