Following Christ's example is central to our calling as servants of God. We are to pursue righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, serving Christ in a manner acceptable to God and approved by men. Our role is to seek peace and edify one another, living as sacrifices in service, even in a world marked by self-centeredness and a lack of compassion. Compassion, a fundamental aspect of our preparation for responsibilities in the Kingdom of God under Jesus Christ, requires awareness, empathy, and action. It is not merely sympathy or pity, which lack involvement, but a deep, active response to alleviate suffering. As Jesus Christ demonstrated throughout His ministry, compassion is at the core of His character. He was moved to heal the leper, feed the multitudes, restore sight to the blind, and raise the dead out of love and tenderness for those in dire need. His actions show us that we must be willing to help others in whatever capacity we have, reflecting His example. The Parable of the Good Samaritan further illustrates this principle. While the priest and Levite passed by the wounded man with mere pity, the Samaritan, despite being an enemy to the Jews, showed true compassion by acting to help. This parable teaches that compassion is a way of life, essential to inheriting eternal life, and must be at the core of our souls, beyond mere outward appearances. As we face a world growing cold in love and heading toward great tribulation, we must prepare to carry water for Jesus Christ, embodying compassion, mercy, kindness, gentleness, tenderness, longsuffering, and love. God is working to develop His character in us now, testing us daily to ready us for the age to come when Christ returns. We must ask ourselves if we are faithful in the little things, tenderhearted, compassionate even to our enemies, and truly imitating Jesus Christ. As a chosen generation and royal priesthood, we are called to serve our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, ministering to those who will come through tribulation and beyond, proclaiming the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Following Christ's example is a vital aspect of a Christian's life, requiring active effort and sacrifice. We are called to be formed, shaped, and molded by our Creator and Savior to become Christ-like. This involves no longer walking in the futility of mind as others do, but instead working to remove ignorance and blindness through conscious prayer, study, and meditation on God's Word. It demands the hard labor of resisting satan, human nature, and the world to apply what is learned into daily life, a labor that is pleasing to God though it does not earn salvation. Specific works are required as we follow His example. We must put off the old conduct, ridding ourselves of character flaws, and put on the new man, building virtue into our character in righteousness and true holiness. This change, though illustrated simply as changing clothing, involves serious effort to yield to God, who empowers us through His Spirit. We are charged to speak truth, control anger to avoid the spirit of murder, earn income honestly to help those in need, avoid fornication and uncleanness, cut off covetousness, and refrain from blasphemy. These efforts reflect obedience to God's commandments and demonstrate that works are indeed required, though they do not earn salvation. The appeal underlying these instructions is to walk in love, following Christ's purposeful, self-sacrificial example as the pattern for our thoughts, words, and conduct. His surrender was genuine, not forced, as He gave Himself for us. God desires that Christ's example motivates us to follow in His footsteps, regardless of life's challenges. Self-sacrifice, the driving force of His life, is exceedingly difficult for us to emulate due to our past focus on self-gratification, yet most works required by God occur when we make the effort to learn to do good and put off the evil from our former lives. Christianity is not a passive wait for Christ to do everything, but a dynamic process where work plays a significant role in following His guidance and instructions.

Following Christ's example is the foundational principle of Christian living. Our Leader, Jesus Christ, has blazed the trail before us, punching a hole in the air, allowing us to benefit from what He has already done. We must follow Him closely to finish this race with a good outcome, as the quality of our finish depends on how closely we imitate Him. When He called His disciples, such as Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, and Philip, He commanded, "Follow Me," and they immediately left their lives behind to obey. This command goes beyond merely walking behind Him; it means to do what He does, live as He lives, experience what He experiences, suffer and die as He did, and ultimately share in eternal life and His rewards. Following Jesus is not easy or risk-free; it demands absolute devotion and dedication. As He taught in Luke 9:57-62, discipleship involves severe sacrifices and hardships. He warned that the Christian life is one of discomfort, where even He had nowhere to lay His head, signifying that we must live as strangers and sojourners, without the comforts of a fixed home. It is also sacrificial, requiring us to forsake customary duties and privileges of normal life, prioritizing God's will over personal or societal obligations. Furthermore, it demands new loyalties, where devotion to Him and God's family must surpass even the strongest blood ties, requiring an act of will to make Him the first priority. Jesus Himself instructed in Mark 8:34-38 that whoever desires to follow Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow. Denying oneself means to renounce, reject, and abandon personal desires and ambitions, surrendering everything to Him. Taking up the cross signifies a willingness to submit to God's will, even if it leads to torture and death, as a voluntary act of complete submission. This paradox is evident in His words that whoever loses his life for His sake and the gospel's will save it, showing that the only way to attain eternal life is to sacrifice our lives to Him now. Peter understood this concept deeply, writing in I Peter 4:1-2, 14-19, that we must arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ, who suffered in the flesh, submitting to God's will over personal desires. If we suffer as Christians, we should not be ashamed but glorify God, committing our souls to Him in doing good, no matter the cost. Paul echoed this in II Timothy 2:1-4, 7-10, likening us to soldiers in Christ's army, enduring hardship and avoiding entanglement in worldly affairs to please Him who enlisted us. Our devotion must be total, driven by love and a desire to please Him, even to the point of giving everything, as Paul did. In John 21:17-19, Jesus specifically impressed upon Peter the cost of following Him, foretelling Peter's death and reiterating, "Follow Me," emphasizing total commitment despite personal failure. He further clarified to Peter that each disciple's path is unique, and personal devotion to Him is what matters, not comparison with others. As slaves to Christ, we must develop a mentality of immediate, cheerful obedience to our Master in all things, mirroring His own life of labor, exhaustion, and ultimate sacrifice. Yet, amidst these demands, Jesus offers hope in John 14:1-6, assuring us not to be troubled, for He prepares a place for us in His Father's house, promising to return and receive us to Himself. He declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," encapsulating that He is everything—our path, our belief, and our goal. To reach the Kingdom of God, we must walk closely in His footsteps, imitating Him in every aspect of life. Finally, in John 10:27-30, He affirms that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him, receiving eternal life, securely held in His and His Father's hands, with no power able to snatch us away. Thus, despite the immense cost, the reward of following Him is worth every sacrifice, ensuring our safety and ultimate hope.