Evening, September 18
Go To Morning Reading
“And they follow me.”
John 10:27
We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their
shepherd, for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases . We are not our own, we are bought with a price—let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood. The soldier follows
his captain, the servant obeys his master, much more must we follow
our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are not true
to our profession of being Christians, if we question the bidding
of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty, cavilling is
our folly. Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” Wherever Jesus may lead us, he goes before us . If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a
companion, who will dread the perils of the road? The journey may
be long, but his everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence
of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because he lives,
we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith,
because the paths in which he leads us all end in glory and immortality . It is true they may not be smooth paths—they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the
“city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his
covenant.” Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity
or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, his purpose
shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good
to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak
side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our
faces, his dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit
at home and warm their hands at the world’s fire. To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills
of leopards, we will follow our Beloved. Precious Jesus, draw us,
and we will run after thee.