1 Peter 2:21 For you were called to this,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in His steps. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Today's verse speaks of at least two things to the Christian. When Peter tells of Christ's suffering it is as a substitute. He took it for us. We should admire what He has done for us, but it doesn't end there. We are challenged to be an example to live as He lived. The walking, the following in His steps are a way of life, a course to follow, day by day.
Ray Ortlund writes, "If Christ is, to us, only our substitute to admire and not also our example to follow, we will not rouse ourselves to do hard things in obedience to him. That will be spiritually deadening in the long run. If Christ is, to us, only our example to follow and not first our substitute to admire, we will not lean on him as our savior and be freed from ourselves. That too is spiritually deadening in the long run. We can get it wrong and still thrive for a while. But in the long run, only a well-proportioned theology can keep us spiritually alive."
The verse from Peter and the thoughts from Ray Ortlund reminded me of the old hymn "One Day". The words tell of Jesus' death and resurrection, an His example of love for us, and ultimately our salvation.
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming—O glorious day!
He is our substitute, taking our punishment. He is our example in how to live and to love, walking day by day, step by step (see below) looking to that glorious day of His appearing.
In Christ,
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
21-25 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.
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