Marching Orders, No. II
“Go li?, therefore.” — Matt, xxviii. 19.
When we read any general promise, faith appropriates it by saying” This is for me “And then it becomes effectual; one receives it as surely as if it had been spoken to and for one’s self alone. When we heard the word of the Lord Jesus saying, “Come unto Me, all we who “JO MARCHING ORDERS.
believe on Him did not and do not hesitate to say, “That means me!” and to act upon the gracious invitation. Now is it fair to accept His ilCome ye,” and refuse His ilGo ye”? Is the first, with its untold blessings, to be appropriated personally, notwithstanding its plural form, and the second to be merely read as an interesting general command to whomsoever it may concern, but certainly not to ourselves?
As we have the unspeakable privilege and comfort of knowing that “all God’s promises are for all God’s children,” so that you and I may claim every one unless we can show cause that it cannot apply to our case, so it must be that all God’s commands are for all God’s children, unless we can show cause that any one cannot apply to our case. Therefore it follows that, as the Lord Jesus Christ said “Go ye,” the obligation lies upon each of His true followers to consider definitely, at least once in his or her life, whether the circumstances in which He has placed them do or do not definitely preclude them from literal lv obeying this distinct and most literal commandment.
If they are really thus precluded, the loving and loyal heart will be eager to find ways of obeying the spirit of it But if not thus preeluded, what then? To Him, your own Master, you must give account why you do not go! To Him you must “make excuse.” To Him who gave Himself for you, and who knows exactly how much it is in your heart to ’ l keep back” from Him. To Him who knows your secret preference for some other profession, or your reluctance to be tied to an absorbing life work; and who knows how you satisfy your conscience with offering Him the chips and shavings of your time and strength, a few odds and ends of work in the evenings or on Sundays, or a proportion of your time subtracted from “social claims,” when you might, nobly, bravely, loyally, leave all and follow Him, responding to the Master’s “Go ye,” with “Here am I, send me!”
Have you thought of it in this light? If not, do not risk being among His disobedient servants, but take the matter direct to Himself, and say, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? Make Thy way straight before my face I”