Following Christ

“IWr ASTER, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.” Such were the words that were addressed to our Lord by a certain scribe. From our Lord’s reply it would seem that the man had scarcely realized their full import. Or perhaps there was a lack of real sincerity. Did the scribe understand what he was saying? Had he really counted the cost 1

The words might have been the outburst of a mere passing emotion — a temporary impulse — rather than the deliberate decision of a calm and intelligent estimate of spiritual realities. He had been listening to Christ’s preaching. Perhaps he was captivated by the marvellous wisdom and exquisite tenderness of His words; and as he listened his heart was touched, his enthusiasm was kindled, and he felt at the moment that he was ready to go anywhere with such a Teacher.

But whatever might have been the motive that prompted their utterance, the words cons’dered in themselves do express the feelings of a truly devoted disciple. They are the true expression of a soul wholly consecrated to Christ.

Taking them in this sense, let us ask what do they imply? If we can say Vhem truly — if this is the calm and deliberate decision to which we have come, having been brought to see the infinite preciousness of Christ, and the glorious privilege of being under His guidance, direction, and control — if we can say from our hearts,” Master, I will follow Thee — I will follow Thee whithersoever

Acts X. 36.

Cor. vi.
19.

Acts xxvii.
23.

Thou goest,” — then we have been brought into a very intimate relationship with Christ. What does it imply?

I. The recognition of Christ’s CLAIMS. It is possible to realize much of the benefits of His death — pardon, peace, acceptance — and yet but very imperfectly recognise Christ’s lordship over us. If He is Christ Jesus, anointed to save, so He is Christ the Lord anointed to rule. He is “Lord of all.” In all things He must have the pre-eminence. Christ does not want our patronage. He comes claiming our submission. He must take the place of absolute supremacy.

He is your Proprietor. “Ye are not your own.” The Apostle Paul fully and constantly recognised this truth. It was to him the essential condition of all true service. It was because he could say “Whose I am,” that he could add, “and Whom I serve.”

No one has a right to take possession of our natures and to use us but Christ.

We belong to Him. The world, or Satan, or self, have no right to our spirits, souls, and bodies. These are all usurpers.

You may be under the power of one who has no authority over you — no right to lord it over you. A burglar may break into your house, bind you hand and foot, and then rob you of your goods. He has no right, no authority, thus to deal with you, yet you are powerless to resist him.

So with the believer. Though it is perfectly true that he has been delivered out of the authority of darkness, still if he is not abitiing under the authority of Christ, and in the keeping power of God, Satan may have dominion over him. He may fall under the power of evil.

We are only safe as we recognise Christ’s claims. He claims the right of taking possession of the whole man, of managing every part of our being, and inseparable from His power to control is His power to defend and to keep.

Col. i. 13.

In proportion to the thoroughness with which we submit to Christ’s sway, to the same degree shall we be brought to enjoy Christ’s rest. Anxiety and strain cease just as we practically recognise that the government of our whole beings, and of everything connected with us, has been laid upon Christ’s shoulder.

It is because in some subtle way or other we fancy we are our own masters, that we are oppressed by care and weighed down with anxiety.

Imagine a cabin boy deluding himself with the notion that the whole responsibility of navigating the ship and providing for the passengers rested upon his shoulders. The captain would soon tell him to look after his own business and do what he was told: “I am commander here, my boy.”

So it is with us. It is because we fail to recognise Christ’s Lordship that we often get burdened with anxiety and hampered with care.

But to say these words from the heart imph’es also —

II. Obedience to Christ’s Commands. “Whatsoever He saith unto you, John ii. 5. do it,” were the words of the mother of our Lord to the servants who waited on them at the feast.

Christ has much more to say to us than “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Jesus spake the word as they were able to hear it.

Obedience is conformity to a revealed will. Divine obedience is conformity to the revealed will of God.

Christ claims our obedience, step by step, as He reveals to us His will and gives us His commands. “His Command- ijohnv.3. ments are not grievous.” That is to say, they may be fulfilled.

All His followers have been redeemed, set free, for this purpose, that they might follow Him. To follow Him is to obey Him. To follow Christ is not the same thing as to have a religion, or a system of morality. It implies that we have come to a Person.

It IS the obedience of the heart. It is not the service of a mere outward compliance, a service of compulsion. A convict performs his task, goes through his labours; but it is not true service, for it is not voluntary. There is all the difference between the compulsory labour of a convict and the willing and loving obedience

Rom. vi. 17. of a child. “Thanks be to God, that whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were de-Hvered.”

Lastly, the words imply — III. Likeness to Christ’s Character. — Followers of Christ are imitators of God.

Eph V. T. “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children.” To follow Christ is to walk in His steps.

This likeness is not confined to the actions of a man’s life: it is something that lies deeper. Outward conformity to Christ can only come by union and fellowship with Him in the secret springs of one’s being. The root of every true act of service lies in the hidden principle which prompted it.

Christ has revealed to us the secret of His obedience. He not only says, “Follow Me,” do as I have done, imitate Me in the visible acts of My life, but He says “Follow Me” in the spiritual conditions which were essential even to My own obedience. “The branch cannot bear fruit /r;;z itself.” As one has said, here is “the imperative of a natural law,” cannot. So is it also the imperative of a spiritual law, the law of true service. And because He had taken the place of a servant, the place of dependence — of a branch — He voluntarily submits to the same law which He bids us to observe. He says, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” Again, “I do nothing from Myself.” “I speak not from Myself.”

Well, then, we have to be imitators of

John XV.

John V. 30 1
viii. 28;
xiv. 10.

ITos. xiv. 8 Christ, followers of Him in this respect. To work, to speak, to bear fruit, not from ourselves, but from Him who liveth in us. “From Me is thy fruit found.”