An important safety tip for early season ice fishing is to politely tell your fishing buddy, “You can go first. I’ll be right behind you.” Then if you fumble a bit with your equipment, you can buy some time and keep an eye on him as he heads out on the ice. Soon enough you will know if it is safe to follow.

Everything about our lives is venturing out on thin ice. The ice is treacherous. There is always the risk of breaking through and going down, way down. I guess we could just stay off the ice. Or we can follow the One who has tested what lies ahead and knows where it’s safe. If I can mess up my metaphor, where us sheep may safely graze.

Our heavenly Father saw from above that the ice was really thin.

He spoke to his beloved Son: “’Tis time to have compassion.
Then go, bright Jewel of my crown, And bring to mankind salvation.
From sin and sorrow set him free; Slay bitter death for them that they
May live with you forever.”—Martin Luther

God said to Jesus, “You go first.” Jesus obeyed his Father’s will. He was born of a virgin mother and came to be our brother. In his everyday, perfect life; substitutionary death; and victory-sharing resurrection, Jesus went first. We call after him, “Wait up! Savior, we follow on, guided by you.”