A Christian is one who follows CHRIST
(J.R. Miller, "Young People's Problems" 1898)
You must receive CHRIST as your
MASTER and LORD. A Christian is
one who follows CHRIST. This means
the surrender of the whole life to HIM.
The heart must be given up. There can be
no Christian life, without love to JESUS.
JESUS demands the first place in
the affections of HIS followers.
If anyone loves father or mother, brother
or sister, wife or child, more than HIM--
he is not worthy of JESUS, and cannot
be HIS disciple.
But the most perfect obedience,
if the heart is not in it, would not make
one a Christian. We might devote our
life and strength to Christian work,
toiling unweariedly in the service of
the church, giving our money lavishly
for the advancement of Christianity
or for the relief of suffering--
and yet not be Christians.
Love for CHRIST must be the motive
at the heart of all our work for CHRIST.
"Do you love ME?" is the test.
But the heart draws the whole life
after it. If we truly love JESUS--
we will obey JESUS.
keep MY commandments." (John 14:15)
"You are MY friends--
if you do whatever I command you."
(John 15:14)
We cannot accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR--
and not at the same time accept HIM
as our LORD and MASTER. We must
begin at once to obey HIM.
Our obedience must be without reserve,
without condition, without question. It
must also be cheerful and glad-hearted--
not compulsory, reluctant, or constrained.
Christians are soldiers of CHRIST--
and the soldier's first duty is to obey.
Whether the will of CHRIST is made
known to us in HIS Word, through our
own conscience, or in providence--
we should always promptly and
cheerfully accept and obey.
It may not be always easy--
it may be very hard and costly;
but when the will of our MASTER is
made known, if we are HIS followers--
we can only obey, and our obedience
should be sweet with love.
We love HIM--
because HE first loved us.
We know HIM--
because HE first calls us.
CHRIST is ours--
and we are CHRIST'S.
Being a Christian is living out HIS
same life of love, obedience, surrender,
and service, through all the days.
As Christians, we are to live out
the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians:
It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not
self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails."
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
True faith will make us more gentle,
more patient, more unselfish.
A Christian life is a new Christ-
life lived out in this world--
we are to be CHRIST to others!
The heart of the Christian should
be a well of living water, a fount
of holy and blessed influences,
whose streams flow in all directions--
carrying comfort, cheer, encouragement,
help, and gladness to every other life they
reach. Mere orthodoxy of belief does not
make one a Christian, nor does attention
to church rituals and rules.
A Christian is one in whom the life
of CHRIST pulses, and the love
of CHRIST glows and burns!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
No comments:
Post a Comment