The Footsteps of Jesus
There will be no daily walk sent this week. Please read and pray over the scriptures Pastor Tim shared on Sunday and follow Jesus’ example. This message is important for your growth in the Lord. Sometimes we lose sight of Jesus, but He always guides us back. We just need to listen and obey.
“Listen, my radiant one—if you ever lose sight of me, just follow in my footsteps where I lead my lovers. Come with your burdens and cares. Come to the place near the sanctuary of my shepherds.” Song of Songs 1:8
The footsteps of Jesus begins before His birth in Matthew when an Angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream to instruct him to take Mary as his wife. “don’t hesitate to take Mary into your home as your wife, because the power of the Holy Spirit has conceived a child in her womb. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to name him ‘Jesus,’ for he is destined to give his life to save his people.”
Joseph would have understood the meaning of the name Jesus which is actually Yeshua in Hebrew. Yeshua means Yahweh is salvation, restoration and deliverance. Abba specifically chose Joseph to be the spiritual father to Jesus on earth.
Matthew 2:13, “After they had gone, Joseph had another dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said, “Get up now and flee to Egypt. Take Mary and the little child and stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod intends to search for the child to kill him.”
Matthew 2:19-23, “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph in a dream while he was still in Egypt, saying, “Go back to the land of Israel and take the child and his mother with you, for those who sought to kill the child are dead.” So, he awoke and took Jesus and Mary and returned to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus, Herod’s son, had succeeded him as ruler over all of the territory of Judah, he was afraid to go back. Then he had another dream from God, warning him to avoid that region and instructing him instead to go to the province of Galilee.”
The prophesy of Jesus being from Nazareth was fulfilled by Joseph’s obedience to take Jesus to that region.
Luke 2:41-52, “Every year Jesus’ parents went to worship at Jerusalem during the Passover festival. When Jesus turned twelve, his parents took him to Jerusalem to observe the Passover, as was their custom. A full day after they began their journey home, Joseph and Mary realized that Jesus was missing. They had assumed he was somewhere in their entourage, but he was nowhere to be found. After a frantic search among relatives and friends, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After being separated from him for three days, they finally found him in the temple, sitting among the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking probing questions. All who heard Jesus speak were awestruck at his intelligent understanding of all that was being discussed and at his wise answers to their questions. His parents were shocked to find him there, and Mary scolded him, saying, “Son, your father and I have searched for you everywhere! We have been worried sick over not finding you. Why would you do this to us?” Jesus said to them, “Why would you need to search for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be here in my Father’s house, consumed with him?” Mary and Joseph didn’t fully understand what Jesus meant. Jesus went back home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured Jesus’ words deeply in her heart. As Jesus grew, so did his wisdom and maturity. The favor of men increased upon his life, for he was greatly loved by God.”
Proverbs 3:3, Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart. That’s how you will find favor and understanding with both God and men—you will gain the reputation of living life well.
Shaped by integrity means you are always willing to listen to correction and instruction. Jesus was willing to listen to correction and instruction from Joseph and Mary.
As we follow the footsteps of Jesus through these scriptures, we see one common thread that is very important for us to grow in wisdom and maturity and that is the importance of a spiritual father. If it was necessary for Jesus how much more is it for us. Jesus submitted His authority to Joseph as a father. He learned the trade of carpentry from His father which meant He spent a lot of time with Joseph learning how to walk out the everyday human aspect of life.
Every single one of us want to grow in wisdom and maturity in the Lord, to increase in our favor with both Yahweh and man but we can see this comes by tethering ourselves to a spiritual father. At TWP, we are honored and so thankful for Pastor Tim’s heart as a spiritual father to each one of us who call this our home. He loves his kingdom family and cares deeply for each one uniquely.
This week the Holy Spirit is inviting you to yield to the footsteps of Jesus. Where are you in tethering your heart to a spiritual father? There is safety in this Kingdom family camped in the wilderness.
