60. Following Is Obedience

Following Is Obedience

What does following the Lamb mean? It means two things: first, the wholehearted acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ in a threefold position, as the Prophet who reveals the will of God, which it is our duty and privilege to do; as the Priest, who through the offering of Himself on the cross calls you and me to a life of sacrifice, a life of blessing, a life of intercession; as the King, who alone has the right to our lives. It means the wholehearted acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and King, and then it means, as well, instant, unquestioning obedience to Him in the daily life. Not the obedience that is given by fits and starts; not the obedience that is easy to give; not easy circumstances; not easy surroundings; obedience that is meant in the hymn where the writer says:

Anywhere with Jesus, Though He leadeth me Where the path is rough and rude, Where the dangers be;

Though He taketh from my heart All I love below, Anywhere with Jesus I will gladly go.

Acceptance and obedience, these are the essential conditions of discipleship.

There is nothing in these days that we are more constantly engaged in, both in theological and political circles, than the endeavor to get a proper definition for matters which concern us; and there is nothing which gives rise to greater controversy than definitions. But here, in terms that are of the clearest description, with words that no one can mistake, the Lord Jesus Christ defines discipleship, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). “They which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goest …” (Revelation 14:4). Discipleship means to stand in the most definite relation to the Lord Jesus Christ in the acceptance of Him and in obedience to Him. That is the essential condition of discipleship, taking up the cross and following Him, accepting Him in the fullness of His claims, giving obedience to Him up to the last glimmer of light that we have.