Our Leader

‘Behold I have given Him for a witness to the people, a Leader and commander to the people.” — Isa. lv..

UR Heavenly Father knew that we could never find our way to heaven by ourselves. He knew, too, that we should never find even a little bit of the right way for ourselves. So He gave usa Leader. It would have been a great deal if He had sent an angel to lead us; but in His great love to us He did much more than that, He sent Jesus down to us and said, “‘ Behold, I have given /7zm for a Leader.”

Those who want to get to the top of very high mountains in Switzerland are anxious to have the very best guide they can hear of. Very often they write to a first-rate guide months beforehand to make sure, and he engages himself, so that when they come to begin their climb the guide is all ready for them. Now we did not engage our heavenly Guide, but God knew how much we should need Him. So He engaged the Lord Jesus to be our Leader ages before we were born. And so, now that you are, I hope, beginning the upward path, Jesus is there, keeping God’s promise, and ready to be your Leader.:

We want inside leading and outside leading, and Jesus does both. The inside leading comes first, for He leads us to God as our Father. If He did not we never should come near at all, but always be far off, for He says, ““no man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John xiv. ). Then He leads us in the way of righteousness (Prov.

vill. ), that is, He leads us to do what is right. He does not only lead all His people in general like a flock (Ps. lxxx. ), but

He calls each of us by name and leads us (John x. ). So you may say, like David, “He leadeth me” (Ps. xxiii. »;

Then there is the outside leading, sometimes leading you to very pleasant places (PS xvi. ), and sometimes leading you where you do not like to go. But if Jesus really is your Leader He will always lead you by the right way (Ps. cvii. ). “Hie never makes a mistake in arranging for His children. He leads gently as well as rightly, like Jacob, who said he would lead on softly, according as the children should be able to endure (Gen. xxxiii. ). And He always leads safely (Ps. lxxviii. ); so that we need not fear.

He Himself was led as a sheep to the slaughter (Acts viil. ). So He knows how to lead His lambs till He brings them safe to heaven. And still He will be their Leader, for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Rev. vii. ie

Jesus, loving Saviour,
Only Thou dost know
All that may befall us
As we onward go.
So we humbly pray Thee,
Take us by the hand,
Lead us ever upward
To the Better Land,