Devotions & Chaplain Info
This is the kind of life you've been invited to, the kind of life Christ lived... He is your example, and you must follow IN HIS STEPS
1 Peter 2:21
Theme and Bible Verse : Next Step = Best Step:
Psalm 32:8: NIV: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.
Week of January 6th:What did Jesus do while on Earth?
Matthew 10:34 (NIV) says, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Now, that might sound surprising, Jesus DOES love everyone. He came to separate out the true believers from those who just wanted to practice rituals and make themselves look good. Throughout the Scriptures, we see Jesus challenging the religious leaders and working through common everyday people that everyone else overlooked. Because He wanted to separate real faith from that that was just for show, and demonstrate that salvation from God didn’t come from status or works, but through relationship.
So, that’s exactly what He did while He was on Earth - He cultivated relationships. Specifically with His twelve apostles. They were His closest friends and the ones with who He shared most of His knowledge. Jesus also performed many miracles while He was on Earth including healing people and providing for their needs in supernatural ways. He did this not only to confirm that He was indeed sent by the Father, but also to demonstrate the Father’s provision and power in ways that the people could see and experience firsthand.
Jesus gave us a model of how we should think, act and speak. Even though we’ll never be able to fully be like Him, we can give it our best shot!
Week of January 13th: What was Jesus like while He was growing up?
Although Jesus was the Son of God from the moment He entered the Earth, He was also fully human. And just like all of us that follow Jesus and seek His will for our lives, we can’t start walking out our purpose a moment sooner than when God says it’s time. (Well, we can try to start in our own timing, but it probably won’t work out very well!) So, even though Jesus knew who He was all along, He refrained from performing any miracles or doing any ministry until He was 30 years old!
We can be sure however, that Jesus knew who He was because of passages like this one in Luke chapter 2. Joseph and Mary had lost track of their son while they were in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration and when they finally found Him after three days, He was sitting among the teachers in the temple courts. Verse 47 tells us, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” And, after Mary questions His disappearance, His response is simply, “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49). Jesus clearly knew He was the Son of God, but even still, He grew up normally and worked as a carpenter until God called Him into action later in life.
Week of January 20th: Why does Jesus love everyone?
It can be difficult to love everyone all of the time. Maybe your parents made you mad or your little brother or sister is driving you crazy. But, what about the people who’ve hurt you? The ones that have done you wrong or caused you pain? Are you able to love them? Jesus did. And His life sets the example for how we as believers should live. But, how did He do it? Why did He love everyone? Even those who mocked Him, persecuted Him and eventually killed Him?
Jesus loved everyone because He knows that we are all sinful creatures. He knows that until we are resurrected and living in heaven with the Father, we will never be able to totally be free of sin. So, He chooses to look beyond those sins and see the soul underneath. Plus, Jesus is God in the flesh. So, He brought with Him the love of the Father and the Father loves everyone. Although not everyone chooses to love Him back, it is His desire for everyone to be in a loving relationship with Him.
Still to this day, Jesus loves everyone and fights for their souls because He wants us to go to heaven with God, not be separated from Him for all of eternity in hell. So, He chooses to love everyone, even those who are far from Him.
Week of January 27th: Does Jesus love people who do bad things?
Jesus loves everyone. And that does mean everyone. Even people who are involved in dangerous or illegal behaviors. Because Jesus looks beyond the flesh to the person underneath, He’s not discouraged by the sin or darkness that may appear on the outside. Of course, He doesn’t approve of sinful behavior, but He will never discount or forsake someone because of it. He calls everyone to repent and turn their life over to Him so He can make them a new creation - no matter how bad their lives may seem.
It’s the whole reason why Jesus came in the first place! Because if we tried to earn our salvation based on how 'good' or 'bad' we were, we’d never be able to do it. We all would have different ideas of what it means to be a good person, so we’d never have a solid standard to base our decisions on. And even if we did, how would we decide who gets a second chance and who doesn’t?
We earn our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. So that means it doesn’t matter how bad our lives have gotten... as long as we’re still breathing, there’s still time to turn it all around!
In His Steps CHAPLAIN
In His Steps has on-call Chaplains available to In His Steps families. Our chaplains have extensive experience and training in a wide variety of pastoral care situations. Some of the assistance IHS Chaplains can offer grownups include Biblical pastoral counseling, marriage and family issues, conflict resolution, grief and trauma support. Please also contact us for assistance with premarital counseling, weddings and funerals.
As with all In His Steps activities, there is no charge for our pastoral/chaplaincy assistance. In His Steps is a non-profit 501 c organization and donations are always welcome, appreciated and are tax deductible.
You may contact Louis at or 704-650-4089
with questions or to arrange an appointment.