FOOTPRINTS TO THE CROSS

Christian:  Having a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ: Presenting ourselves in the same manner after His image.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what it means to call ourselves a Christian. We’re not only saying that we believe in Jesus, but we're saying we have accepted to 'follow" Him. We're taking on His character in becoming Christ-like. 

I wonder if each of us was given a report card, or a yearly review, how we would measure up against what the definition of our title (our position in Christ) stands for? James 2: 6 teaches, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Let’s take a look at the footprints of Jesus to see if we too are leaving the same imprints in the lives of others.

• Jesus said, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me. If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25).
• To each of His disciples Jesus said: Follow me and I will teach you to become fishers of me.
• Jesus asked three times: Do You Love Me? Then feed my sheep.
• He taught us to treat others, as we desire to be treated.
• He said ‘judge not lest you be judged”
• He said to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit….
• He said to love one another, as He loved us so that others will know that we’re his disciples.
• He taught us to bring our offerings into his storehouse by at least a tenth, and not to store treasures up here where moth and rust will destroy.
• We are to visit the orphans and the widows in their afflictions
• We are to pray without ceasing
• Give and it shall be given unto you.
• Have faith without wavering
• We were lead by example in clothing and feeding the poor
• Harvest is plentiful and laborers are few/ Pray that workers will be sent into the field
• We are the salt of the world

I know that we will never be perfect and certain areas of our lives will always stand in need of improvement, which comes from being human. But our goal should always be to try and live as close to the cross as we can. We are to be a light upon a hill so that others can find their way to Jesus. I feel that too many people are staying in the darkness because our lights as Christians are growing dim.

We’re being silent when we need to speak, and we’re sitting down sometimes when we need to stand. We’re forgetting what it’s like to be the Good Samaritan and we’re walking on by saying the next person can help.

I don’t know about you but I would have a few grades that I wouldn’t be that proud of, but the good part about being given another day, is that we have another chance to get it right. We have another chance to walk and leave the imprints of love helping someone else to get home.

Jesus said if the salt loses it's salty taste, it's good for nothing but to be thrown out, and what good is a light if you hide it under a bowl keeping it from shining. Let’s make today count. Go out and leave some footprints in the life of someone else leading them to Christ.

Here’s to leaving footprints to the cross,

Glenda J.