As the sun rose over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the land, a young man named Matthew felt a stirring deep within his soul. He had heard whispers of a remarkable teacher named Jesus, who was said to possess a wisdom and compassion unlike any other because He is God. Curiosity and longing tugged at Matthew's heart, urging him to seek out this mysterious figure and learn from him. With each passing moment, the call to follow Jesus grew stronger, filling Matthew with a sense of purpose and excitement. Little did he know that this decision would change the course of his life forever. 

Life was hard and everyday was like walking in darkness.  Matthew knew that there had to be a way to find light in this darkness. 

As we embark on our journey to live a Christ-centered life, we must be willing to step out in faith. Just as Jesus walked in faith during His time on Earth, we too must trust in God's plan for us. The Bible tells us that God does have a plan for our life.  Even in the darkest of times, we can know that God has a plan for us. Walking in faith means surrendering our fears and doubts to Him, and allowing His will to guide our steps even in the darkest of times. It means believing in His promises even when circumstances seem impossible. When we walk in faith, we open ourselves up to the miraculous and transformative power of God.  The Bible tells us the the righteous walk by faith not by sight. So even when things are tough, we must still have faith.  Let us have the courage to trust in Him completely, knowing that He will never lead us astray.

As we continue our journey in following in the footsteps of Jesus, we must remember the importance of embracing grace. Grace is the unmerited favor and love that God shows us, despite our flaws and imperfections. Grace is when God gives us something that we don't deserve, like Heaven.  It is through grace that we are able to experience forgiveness, redemption, and transformation.  We don't deserve any of these things, but God freely gives them to us. When we embrace grace in our lives, we are able to extend that same grace to others, showing love and compassion just as Jesus did. Let us strive to live each day with a heart full of grace, allowing it to guide our actions and interactions with those around us. Embracing grace is not always easy, but it is essential in living a Christ-centered life.

As we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, it is crucial to remember his teachings on serving others with love. Jesus showed us through his actions that true greatness comes from serving others selflessly. He loves us even while we were yet sinners, so much that He died on the cross for us.   He also  washed the feet of his disciples, healed the sick, and fed the hungry. In our own lives, we can emulate Jesus by looking for opportunities to serve those around us with love and compassion. Are you looking for opportunities to be kind to others, Whether it's lending a helping hand to a neighbor in need or volunteering at a local charity, every act of service done with love brings us closer to living a Christ-centered life. Let us remember Jesus' words, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Let us strive to serve others with the same love and humility that Jesus showed us.

As we continue to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, it is important to remember that living a life of purpose is at the core of our journey.  We must live everyday so people will see that we love Jesus.  Jesus lived with intention, always guided by his divine purpose. In order to follow his example, we must also strive to live with purpose in all that we do.  The Holy Spirit will help us do what we should do to live like Jesus.   This means aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with our values and beliefs and act like Jesus would want us to act, not like the world wants us to act.  It means seeking to make a positive impact on the world around us, by sharing God's love and message with others and to serve others with love and compassion that Jesus shows us everyday.   By living a life of purpose, we can truly honor the teachings of Jesus and walk in his footsteps with grace and humility.