The True Disciple
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"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven — but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21.
We cannot be too often reminded of the important truth — that true religion is a practical thing. While it includes knowledge and experience — it also includes practice; and the two former will be altogether worthless — unless they produce the latter.
In doing the will of God, the true believer finds enjoyment. He can say, in the language of the great Master, "I delight to do your will, O my God; yes, your law is within my heart." "For this is the love of God," says the apostle John, "that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." The reason why they are not grievous — is because the bias of the believer's mind is towards them; because the desires and instincts of his new nature go after them. Does the magnetic needle always turn to the same point? Do the rivers flow on without resting until they reach the ocean? Do the flames ever rise upward — and objects of weight and substance invariably fall downward? As there are natural principles operating in such cases — so there are spiritual principles operating in connection with the child of God.
In proportion as his soul is sanctified — he is sure to delight in the law of the Lord, and take it as his heritage forever. Compliance with the divine requirements may be a very irksome thing to many — but the Christian finds it his food and drink, to do the will of his Father who is in heaven. Others may think it a wearisome drudgery — but the Christian regards it, on the contrary, as pure delight. Perfect freedom does he find that to be — which is looked upon by many as a hard and heavy bondage.
Our obedience, in order to be cheerful and joyous, must be evangelical. It must be, both as regards substance and motive — such as God requires in His Word. Several things may prompt men to endeavour to walk in the way of His precepts. Custom may prompt them. They have been trained from their earliest days to show a considerable amount of respect for the things which are just, true, lovely, and of good report. Conscience may prompt them. That inward monitor, when allowed to speak, never fails to plead the cause of Him who implanted it as his vice-regent in the human heart. A legal spirit may prompt them — by doing certain things they expect to secure eternal life, or they have a vague hope that they will at least contribute in some measure to its attainment. But in none of these cases, is the will of God be done with delight. Such obedience will be either formal on the one hand — or wearisome and heartless task on the other. It is only as we comply with the divine precepts upon gospel principles, that we shall find wisdom's ways to be those of pleasantness, and realize that in keeping of them there is great reward.
Reader, endeavour to cultivate such a spirit. Aspire after the mind of the Psalmist, who declared, "I will run the way of your commandments, when you shall enlarge my heart." Thus only can you be regarded as belonging to the household of faith, and be spiritually related to Him who is the first-born among many brethren. "For whoever shall do the will of My Father who is in heaven — the same is My brother, and sister, and mother." Such alone are recognized by Him now — and none else will He acknowledge in the great day of judgment!
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