YOLO

WEEK 2

Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. 1 JOHN 2:6

Photo Credit: Tim Dodd

Meet Taylor Morris. This 23-year-old Navy EOD tech lost all four of his limbs while serving in Afghanistan. In the line of duty, his job was to defuse bombs, disable mines, and to secure hazardous areas to protect US troops as they traveled. But on May 3, 2012, Taylor stepped on an IED and nearly lost his life. He told reporters, As soon as I stepped on it, I knew. There was a moment, then I heard the blast. I felt the heat. I knew I

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had lost my legs. As I summersaulted through the air, I watched my legs y o. After the area was cleared, medics found and administered battleeld trauma care to save Taylors life. A few days later, he was transported to a hospital in D.C., where he underwent and survived a four limb amputation. Friends and family rallied within hours over the internet to raise over $250,000 to pay for prosthetics. For the rest of Taylors life, his walk will be aected by his sacrice. He is a living testimony to the commitment made to serve his country. And thousands who know his story are inspired and motivated to serve in the same way. We long for those kind of leaders. Leaders who will sacrice even their own safety for the good of their followers. We like to know someone will show us the way, someone will clear the path. Someone that will lead, shepherd, escort, and accompany us safely toward our destination. All through the Old Testament, the people pleaded for a king to rule them, a light to steer them, a shepherd to guide them. David wrote these lyrics... Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Psalm 119:35

Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way. [Psalm 85:13]

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Jesus came not only as a leader on the trail but as the lowly servant. Gods Son came to blaze a trail of righteousness for others to walk in. We ought to walk the way He walked [1 John 2:6]. He came to wash the feet of those who walked after Him. By the piercing of his own feet in crucixion, he inspired his disciples to also serve and wash each others feet. Jesus was a footman.

walk the way he walked.

He said, If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [John 13:14-15] His example of leadership blazed a trail of legacy steeped in love, sacrice, obedience, and righteousness. He inspires us to walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant oering and sacrice to God [Eph 5:2]. So lets talk about how to walk like Jesus walked.

8 Footprints on the Trail of Righteousness [How to walk like Jesus walked]

Look to and learn from Jesus. Our greatest seat is at the feet of Jesus. He himself said, Learn from me. Find rest for your souls [Luke 11:29]. If youve ever built a lego set, you know how important the directions and steps are to follow. As the Word of God, Jesus is our pattern for living, walking, and

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glorifying God. In the case of Mary and Martha, Mary seized the joy of the moment to sit and learn from Jesus teaching. Our greatest joy on the path of righteousness is walking the way Jesus taught us. Study him. Learn of Him. Read His words. Pray His prayers. [Eph 4:20, Luke 8:35, 10:39-42, John 13:15] Delight in the commandments of God. Jesus continually talked about the desire to please the Father and obeying His commandments. Like a son, who nds joy in making his dad proud, Christians should outdo themselves in making God proud. The path of righteousness, led by Jesus, is brightly illuminated commands of God [Psalm 119:35]. Walking in that light brings us joy, direction, purpose, and fulllment [1 John 1:7]. Love the people you lead. Take time to show compassion and care for those who your with. Pay attention to the things that need and desire. Jesus was more concerned about loving then he was leading . And that is why he was such a great leader. He fed people food. He gave them drink. He healed their sickness. He wash their feet. He loved the people he led. Replace selshness with an inclination to serve. Jesus came like a waiter at a restaurant. As a waiter will prepare the table, ll drinks, and bring portions of food, Jesus work was service. His hands and feet were busy in providing for others. As we walk we need to take opportunities to humble ourselves, take the form of a servant, and wash our followers feet. [Mark 10:45, Phil 2:5-7]

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Overcome obstacles in the way. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? [Gal. 5:7] Satan will use any hindrance to trip and tangle us on lifes walk. Like trees fallen across a forrest trail, Satan will obstruct the way of faithfulness to God. Our duty is to navigate the path so that we avoid, overcome, and leave behind those barriers. We have to turn away from sin, defeat doubt, and lay guilt at the cross of Christ. Forget whats behind. Press for what lies ahead. Each stumbling stone needs to be crushed by the power of the word of life, given us through Gods Spirit. [Heb 12:1, 1 Cor 9:24-27, Phil 2:16, Phil 3:10-14] Suer. Daniel Berrigan said If you want to follow Jesus, you better look good on wood. The truth is that we worship a man that was murdered. If we follow Him, we should expect to suer. In fact, if we are not suering, we are probably not following. In giving our life away for others, we will be treated like He was. Unfairly. Unappreciated. Mocked. Made fun of. Talked about. Attacked. Abused. And possibly killed. [1 Peter 2:21-24, 4:1 Imitate other imitators. The path of righteousness is not a place where we have to walk alone. Walking like Jesus is made easier by the footprints of heroes of the present and the past. Those who love God walk together, talk together, and imitate each others example. Paul constantly encouraged this. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [Phil 3:7, 1 Cor 11:1, Heb 6:12]

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Run the path by the power of His resurrection. Let your faith in the living power of the risen Christ reign over the dying esh in your body. Jesus already walked the path of this earth. He already suered it, was tempted by it, and was crucied by it. Trust that your victory on this path is not dened by our failures, but by His faithfulness. Run on this path of righteousness, knowing even your death will magnify the life of Jesus. [Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 4:11] Taylor Morris served his country faithfully, selessly, and sacricially. He gave all four of his limbs while ghting for freedom and justice in our country. His walk will forever be changed by the sacrice he gave. In the same way, Jesus faithfully, selessly, and sacricially gave his body for the salvation of mankind. Let our walk forever be changed by the sacrice Jesus gave. Let His loving example of humility mold our minds, hearts, hands, and feet to walk like He walked.

Discussion Questions
Taylor Morris lost his limbs protecting his fellow soldiers. What risks or dangers are involved in looking out for brothers and sisters in Christ? In Genesis 17:1-2 God told Abram Walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and multiply you greatly. How is the promise still available to Christians today?

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In what ways can we compare the path of righteous living to a walk on a forrest trail? How does the Spirit direct us on that path? If youve ever been hiking in the woods, you know how dicult it can be to keep pace, or even keep to the path. What are some things that hold us back or distract us in our daily spiritual walk? How dicult is piecing together a puzzle without the picture on the front of the box? How dicult is furniture assembly without the directions? How hard would it be to live like Christians without the example of Jesus?

Faith Building Experience

The activity here naturally inclines us to set up a prayer walk. Set up dierent stations throughout your building or even through a path in the woods. At each marker, have footnotes to help guide students in prayer for each of the 8 footprints on the trail of righteousness. The end goal is to get students to pray, focus, and walk like Jesus walked.