God knows all about our steps. Our hearts inform our steps and God knows our hearts. Jesus said in Matthew 12: 34; Luke 6: 45, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Our steps reflect the contents of our hearts. Job who did not want to misstep said in Job 23: 11, my foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. David affirmed in Psalms 17: 5, my steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. When God is in our hearts, our steps will not slip. Psalms 37: 31 says the law of their God is in their hearts; their steps do not slip.
God knows when we step outside his will. Job 31: 4 asked, does he not see my ways, and number all my steps? God ordains the steps of the righteous so he knows which steps he has not ordained. Job 31: 37 says I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. Also, Job 34: 21-22 say “For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals, and he sees all their steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.
What are the right steps?
Peter summarized the right steps to take in life from 1Peter 2: 1-25 as follows,
Avoid impure thoughts
Peter said, rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Our thoughts must be pure and clean. We can achieve this when we behave like new born babies. He said, like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation. In effect, we must desire righteousness based on the word of God to grow spiritually. He said, come to Christ Jesus who is the chosen and precious in God’s sight. In feeding on the word, we maintain our eternity with Jesus.
Build your live into Jesus
Peter said let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Our steps must contribute to God’s kingdom. By doing so, we become one spiritual body with Christ Jesus. He urged as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. This world is not our home and as sojourners pass through, the desires of the flesh are obstructive to the soul from its steps towards its final destination.
Glorify God in your conduct
Peter said conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. We change the minds of unbelievers by our conduct, not by our word of mouth. God is glorified by our deeds, not what we profess. We are to beam light to the world, not darkness. Equally, we must be law abiding to human institutions which are in accord with God’s word. This requires humility, wisdom and the grace of God.
Live like free people of God
Peter said as servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Free people in the spirit are happy and not exploitative but good. Spiritual freedom must not be used for evil or sin. Peter said honour everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. When we honour everyone, we would also love everyone which reflects God’s nature. We honour God with love which Jesus said is the greatest commandment of the commandments.
Endure pain because of Christ
Peter said, endure pain while suffering unjustly. Christ suffered for us on the cross and he expects us to follow his example for the benefit of others. The essence of following Christ is unconditional love, sacrifice and suffering for others. Jesus said in Matthew 16: 24; Mark 8: 34, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Suffering from unjust pain is part of the cross. We cannot follow Jesus without pain and suffering unjustly. Paul quoted scripture in Romans 8: 36, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Don’t go astray like sheep
Peter said, for you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. Jesus is not only our savior but the guardian of our souls. Only Jesus can guide us back to the true way when we go astray because he said in John 14: 6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. God knows our steps are wayward and wobbly. He alone can guide our feet into his peace, and to be light to our path so we do not stumble and fall. He said in Jeremiah 32: 27, see, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? He knows our beginning and our end for he said in Jeremiah 1: 5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
Who guards our steps? Is it Jesus the shepherd of the sheep, the eternal savior and judge who shed his innocent blood on the cross to save our souls from eternal death? What guides our steps? Is it his word of life, the light of the world?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, guard our steps into your light from darkness so we may be the beacons of light and to be the salt of the earth by which you shall be known, honoured and glorified in your holy name, Amen!!
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