In The Master's Steps

House

Introduction

The well-known book, Chicken Soup for the Soul, recounts the story of a family and their beloved dog who was about to deliver puppies. The grass was wet with dew one morning as the husband mowed the lawn. The little dog ran around the lawn mower barking at it, as she usually did. There seemed to be no cause for concern because she never got very close to the mower. However, that morning as she ran toward the mower, instead of stopping she began to slide on the wet grass. Tragically, her two hind legs slid under the mower and were severed. They rushed her to the veterinarian hoping something could be done. After informing them that her unborn puppies were uninjured, the doctor gave them two choices: either he could euthanize her, or he could sew up her two hind stubs and they could take her home. The children begged that they choose the second option, so the parents agreed. To the surprise of all, the little dog soon learned to get around. She would walk around the house, taking steps with her front feet and flipping the rear stubs underneath her. She gave birth to normal, beautiful puppies and took excellent care of them. Although her puppies grew larger and stronger each week, there was one problem: they learned to walk just like their mother.

By beholding, we become changed. This is how we learn to walk like the Master. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked(1 John 2:6). Walking means moving forward, not standing still or going backwards. Walking also involves exertion; we must not stand on the sidelines but be actively involved. In short, in order to walk with Jesus we must put forth effort by exercising our God-given abilities. We gain enthusiasm and strength by walking in God’s light, so that we may have energy to run in the way of His commandments. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin(1 John 1:7). Walking in the light simply means staying close to Jesus. The Bible says, Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). As the light shines on our pathway we must choose to walk in the light. He is the Light of the world. His light is what keeps us from stumbling, going astray each day, yet it is here that so many lose their way. As the Holy Spirit leads us in the understanding of Scripture, even if it requires sacrifice, we must be willing to walk in the truth of God’s Word. The Apostle John wrote, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 4). What is truth? Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). As we read the life and teachings of Jesus, we are given clear instructions on how to walk in truth.

The pages that follow will provide you insight and a desire to walk In the Master’s Steps.

Chapter 1

AND WHEN YOU PRAY

"When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven."

(Luke 11:2)

Walking with the Master means living a life of prayer. We are invited to come before the throne of grace and make our requests to God, knowing that He desires to give us what we ask: If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:11-13)! The Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

Prayer does not bring God down to us, it lifts us up to Him. Prayer is an exercise in learning to trust God’s sovereignty. It brings us into harmony with Him and with His perfect, eternal will. God always answers prayer, and He does so in one of the following three ways: yes, no, or wait. We must realize and accept the fact that God alone knows the end from the beginning, and that He is the Master of timing, not us. He will not answer yes to our prayers when He knows they will not ultimately bless us and/or others, or when He knows the time is not right to grant them. For this reason, we should always finish our prayers as our Savior did, by praying, Father … not My will, but Yours, be done (Luke 22:42).

Much depends upon the way we ask. We must come humbly before Jesus, recognizing that He is the God of the universe and that all power in heaven and on earth is given to Christ. If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). There is no good thing He cannot do for His children: Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you (John 16:23). God is honored when we walk in Christ’s steps. There is great power in the name of Christ, so when we close our prayers in Jesus’ name, His power is added to them. When we do so, we are also praying that our prayers agree with His will. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14). Our requests must not come from a selfish motive or worldly desire; instead, they must stem from a longing to be of service to God and to others. This is how to Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Jesus told a parable of a judge who was troubled by a widow who would not give him any rest, but kept asking him to hear her case. Listen to the judge’s reasoning: ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily’ (Luke18:5-7). God is far more just and loving than any human judge, and we needn’t worry about trying His patience. In this parable, Jesus taught that men always ought to pray and not lose heart … (Luke 18:1). I know a Christian woman who began praying that her Jewish husband would be converted to Christianity. She kept praying that prayer and did not lose heart. God granted her prayer in His perfect time, 39 years later.

There are other conditions to prayer. We must be willing to forsake sin. If there is known sin, we must willingly surrender it for our prayers to be answered. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear (Psalm 66:18). Back in the days of slavery, there was a cruel plantation owner who had no regard for God or man. He owned a large group of slaves, among whom was an old man who was known to be a Christian. Although the plantation owner made life extremely difficult for him, the Christian slave never retaliated. He did what he was told without complaining. Eventually the slave owner became sick, and he grew worse with each passing day. Following a doctor’s examination, he was told his condition was fatal. The next day, the plantation owner called in the old Christian slave exclaiming, I’m dying, I’m a lost man. Tell me what I must do to be saved. The slave answered, You must go with me out to the hog pen and kneel down and pray. I will do no such thing, exclaimed the proud slave owner. The old Christian slave turned and walked out of the room.

The next day the slave owner was worse, and once again he called for the old Christian slave. He pleaded, I’m dying. I don’t have much time left. Tell me what I must do to be saved. Again the answer came, You will have to go with me to the hog pen and kneel down and pray. Puffed up with prejudiced feelings and pride, the slave owner retorted, I will not go. Again, the slave walked out of the room. The next day, feeling his life slipping away, the plantation owner asked for the slave to be called. He pleaded again, I’m dying. I only have hours to live, I am lost, without hope. Tell me what I must do to be saved. Again the answer came, You will have to go with me to the hog pen and kneel down and pray. The slave owner’s face revealed the struggle within him. Finally, settling back in his bed and breathing a sigh of relief, he said, Let’s go. The old Christian slave replied, You don’t have to go, you just had to be willing.

When we are willing to forsake our sins, prayers asking God to forgive our sins are always heard and answered by Him. Is forgiveness of sin possible? Absolutely! The Scripture tells us, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Asking another person for their forgiveness, or forgiving an enemy, is often more difficult for us than asking God to forgive our sins. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:25, 26). That is a solemn statement, and we need to take it seriously. Asking others we have offended to forgive us, and forgiving those who have offended us, sometimes grievously, requires us to bury our human pride. The heart must be softened and subdued by the Holy Spirit. Prayer is very private. It is opening your heart to God, your most trustworthy Friend, knowing that what you say will not change your friendship, or go any further. Prayer is not for the benefit of God. We cannot tell or ask the Father anything in Christ’s name that He does not already know. Prayer is for our own spiritual growth. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24).

One of the greatest evidences that God answers prayer is to ask a large audience how many of them have ever asked for something in prayer, and are certain that God answered that prayer. Almost every hand in the audience will go up. Christ certainly honors His Word. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive (Matthew 21:22). We should not make a spectacle of ourselves when we pray. Long theatrical prayers do not impress anyone. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward (Matthew 6:5).

There are some prayers that should be between you and God alone. Public meetings are not the place to confess our sins. Prayer meetings are a time for prayers of adoration, thanksgiving, and intercession, not for the confession of sin. The time to bare your soul in repentance is when you are alone with God. "But