Christ our Exemplar. 5

The very shortness of the time provoked Him to the greatest diligence, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day—the night comes, when no man can work" (John 9:4). He improved all opportunities and occasions; granting Nicodemus an interview at night, preaching the Gospel to the woman at the well when He was exhausted from His journey. Nothing displeased Him more than to be dissuaded from His work. "Get behind Me, Satan!" He said to Peter when that Apostle said "spare Yourself, Lord." Shall His followers, then, trifle their lives away in vanity? Shall we be slothful—when He was so diligent? How great an honor God has placed on us—by calling us to His service.

Steadfastness in the work of obedience, is our greatest security in the hour of temptation, "The Lord is with you—when you are with Him" (2 Chron. 15:2). Diligence in pursuing holiness is the way to get more—Luke 18:8. Graces grow by being used; spiritual acts lead to spiritual habits; talents faithfully employed are rewarded by an increase thereof. Diligence in the work of God is the direct way to an assurance of the love of God—2 Peter 1:5-10. Diligence in obedience is the greatest security against backsliding. Coldness leads to carelessness, carelessness to negligence, negligence toapostasy. The more diligent we are in serving God—the more we become like Christ.

Fifth the inoffensiveness of the life of Christ on earth, is an excellent pattern for all His people. He injured none, and never gave occasion for any to be justly hurt by Him. He was not only holy—but "harmless." He waived His own personal rights in order to avoid the giving of offense, as in the case of the tribute money—Matthew 17:27. When He was reviled—He "reviled not again" (1 Peter 2:23). So circumspect was our Savior, that though His enemies sought occasion against Him, they could not find any—John 19:4. Let us, then, earnestly seek grace that we may imitate this blessed excellency of His life, that we may obey God's command and be "blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation" (Phil. 2:15). The honor of Christ, whose name we bear, is bound up in our deportment. The rule which He has laid upon us is, "Be wise as serpents—and harmless as doves."

Sixth, the humility and meekness of Christ is proposed by Himself as a pattern for His people's imitation, "Learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matt. 11:29). He abased Himself, by taking upon Him the form of a servant. He stooped to the lowest office, by washing the disciple's feet. When He presented Himself to Israel as their King, it was in humiliation, riding upon the back of an donkey, "Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, etc." (Matt. 21:5). He declared "the Son of man came not to be served—but to serve" (Matt. 20:28). He condescended to the lowest of men, eating with "publicans and sinners" (Matt. 9:11).

In all of this He has left us an example to follow. O to be "clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5) and thereby evidence our conformity unto Christ! Pridehas no part of one who professes to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. It not only betrays lack of communion with Christ—but woeful ignorance of SELF. Nothing is so provoking to God and more quickly estranges the soul from Him! "Though the Lord is high—yet has He respect unto the lowly—but the proud He knows afar off" (Psalm 138:6).

Pride is not only utterly inconsistent with the complaints we make of our corruptions, but it presents a serious stumbling block to the children of God. Be not ambitious of the world's great ones, but content yourself as one of Christ's little ones. Learn humility at His feet. Evidence it in your apparel and deportment—1 Peter 3:3. Display it in cultivating fellowship with the poorest of the flock—Romans 12:16. Show it by speaking of and comporting yourself as "less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8).

Seventh, the contentment of Christ in a poor and despised condition in this world, is an excellent pattern for His people's imitation. His portion here was a condition of deepest poverty and contempt. He was the child of lowly parents; born in a manger. So deprived of the comforts of this world that, much of His time, He had nowhere to lay His head. So poor that He had to borrow a penny for the purpose of pointing to Caesar's portrait stamped on it. Yet He never murmured or complained. Nay, so far from it, so perfectly content was He with God's appointments that He declared, "The lines are fallen unto Me in pleasant places" (Psalm 16:6). Under the most degrading and painful sufferings, He never resisted nor repined, "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted—yet He opened not His mouth—He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). "O that in this also the poorest Christians would imitate their Savior, and learn to manage an afflicted condition with a contented spirit! Let there be no complaints, or foolish charging of God heard from you, whatever straits or troubles He brings unto you.

"The poorest and most afflicted Christian, is owner of many rich, invaluable mercies—Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 3:23. Is sin pardoned—and God reconciled? Then never open your mouths in complaint any more. You have many precious promises that God will not forsake you in your straits—Hebrews 13:5. Your whole life has been an experience of the faithfulness of God to His promises. How useful and beneficial all your afflictions are to you! they purge your sins, wean you from the world and turn to your salvation; then, how unreasonable must your discontentedness at them be! The time of your relief and full deliverance from all your troubles is at hand—the time is but short that you shall have any concernment about such things. Your lot falls by Divine appointment upon you, and bad as it may be, it is much easier and sweeter than the condition of Christ in this world was. Yet He was contented, and why not you?" (John Flavel, to whom we are indebted for much in the above seven points).

"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:6). Let it be duly considered that the principle design of the Apostle in this Epistle, is to exhibit certain signs and marks, both negative and positive, for the examination or trial of men's claims to be Christians (see 5:13). It is in that light, that our verse must be interpreted—the proof of a saving interest in Christ is our imitation of Him. Were this criterion faithfully insisted upon today from the pulpit, much of the empty profession now abounding would be clearly exposed. A claim is made, "he who says he abides in Him," which signifies an interest in and communion with Him. The only way in which that claim can be established, is bywalking as Christ walked—following the example He has left us.

"Every man is bound to the imitation of Christ under penalty of forfeiting his claim to Christ." (John Flavel)

From all that has now been before us we may draw the following INFERENCES.

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