DELIVERED ON LORD'S-DAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1880,
BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." John 15:14.
OUR Lord Jesus Christ is beyond all comparison the best of friends–a
friend in need, a friend indeed. "Friend!" said Socrates, "there is no
friend!" But Socrates did not know our Lord Jesus, or he would have
added, "except the Savior." In the heart of our Lord Jesus there burns
such friendship towards us that all other forms of it are as dim
candles to the sun. "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay
down his life for his friend." An ordinary man has gone as far as he
can when he has died for his friend and yet he would have died anyway,
so that in dying for his friend he does but pay, somewhat beforehand, a
debt which must inevitably be discharged a little further on. With
Christ there was no necessity to die at all and this, therefore, places
His love and His friendship by itself.
He died who needed not to die and died in agony when He might have
lived in Glory–never did man give such proof of friendship as this!
Let the friendship of our Lord to us stand as the model of our
friendship to Him. It cannot be so in all respects because our
situations and conditions are different. His must always be the love of
the greater to the less, the love of the Benefactor to one in need, the
love of the Redeemer to those who are bought with a price but, setting
those points aside, the whole tone and spirit of our Lord's friendship
are such that the more closely we can imitate it the better. Such
friendship as His should be reflected in a friendship most hearty and
self-sacrificing on our part.
Our Lord does not, I think, in this text speak to us about His being
our friend, but about our being His friends. He is "the friend of
sinners," but sinners are not His friends till their hearts are
changed. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you"–we are
not His friends till then. His love to us is entirely of Himself, but
friendship needs something from us. Friendship cannot be all on one
side–one-sided friendship is more fitly called mercy, grace, or
benevolence–friendship in its full sense is mutual. You may do all you
will for a man and be perfectly benevolent and yet he may make you no
return–friendship can only exist where there is a response.
Therefore we have not before us the question as to whether Christ loves
us or not, as to whether Christ has pity on us or not, for in another
part of Scripture we read of "His great love wherewith He loved us even
when we were dead in trespasses and sins." He befriended us when we
were enemies, but that is not our subject just now–the question is
about our being friends to Him and such we must be made if, indeed,
there is to be any intimacy of mutual friendship. Friendship cannot be,
as I have said before, all on one side. It is like a pair of
scales–there must be something to balance on the other side–there
must be a return of kindly feeling from the person loved.
Jesus tells us here that if we are to be His friends, we must do
whatever He commands us and that out of love to Him. Beloved, it is the
highest honor in the world to be called the friend of Christ. There is
surely no title that excels in dignity that which was worn by Abraham,
who was called, "The friend of God." Lord Brooke was so delighted with
the friendship of Sir Philip Sydney that he ordered to be engraved upon
his tomb nothing but this–"Here lies the friend of Sir Philip Sydney."
There is beauty in such a feeling, but yet it is a small matter
compared with being able to say, "Here lives a friend of Christ!"
O wondrous condescension that He should call me, "Friend"! If I am,
indeed, a true Believer, not only is He my friend, without which I
could have no hope here or hereafter, but He has, in the abounding of
His Grace, been pleased to regard me as His friend and write me down in
the honored list of intimates who are permitted to speak familiarly
with Him–as those do between whom there are no secrets, for their
hearts are revealed to Him while He hides nothing from them, but says,
"If it were not so I would have told you."
Beloved, in what a light this sets obedience to Christ's commandments!
I cannot help, at this early moment in the sermon, noting how the
doctrine of our text transfigures obedience and makes it the joy and
glory of life! How precious
it is, for it is a better seal to friendship than the possession of the
largest gifts and influence. Christ does not say, "You are My friends
if you rise to a position of respectability among men, or honor in the
Church." No, however poor you may be and those to whom He spoke these
words were very poor, He says, "You are My friends if you do whatever I
command you." Obedience is better than wealth and better than rank!
Jesus values His friends, not by what they have, or what they wear, but
by what they do.
The 11 Apostles we may put down as having remarkable qualifications for
their lifework, yet their Lord does not say, "You are My friends
because I have endowed you with abilities for the Apostleship." Even to
these leaders of His sacramental host Jesus says plainly, "You are My
friends if you do whatever I command you." That is the point by which
your friendship shall be tested–"If you are obedient you are My
Friends." He says neither less nor more to any of us who, this day,
aspire to the high dignity of being contained within the circle of His
personal friends. You must, my Brothers and Sisters, yield obedience to
your Master and Lord and be eager to do it, or you are not His bosom
friends.
This is the one essential which Grace, alone, can give us. Do we rebel
against the request? Far from it! Our joy and delight lie in bearing
our Beloved's easy yoke.
I. Let us come to the subject more closely and notice first, that OUR
LORD HIMSELF TELLS US WHAT OBEDIENCE HE REQUESTS from those who call
themselves His friends. True friends are eager to know what they can do
to please the objects of their love. Let us gladly listen to what our
adorable Lord now speaks to the select circle of His chosen. He asks of
one and all obedience. None of us are exempted from doing His
commandments. However lofty or however lowly our condition, we must
obey. If our talent is but one, we must obey and if we have 10, still
we must obey. There can be no friendship with Christ unless we are
willing, each one, to yield Him hearty, loyal service.
Let it go round, then, to all of you upon whom the name of Jesus Christ
is named–if enrolled among the friends of Jesus, you must be careful
about your own personal obedience to His blessed will. Forget not that
even to the queen, standing on His right in gold of Ophir, the word is
given, "He is your Lord and worship you Him." It must be active
obedience, notice that. "You are My friends, if you do whatever I
command you." Some think it is quite sufficient if they avoid what He
forbids. Abstinence from evil is a great part of righteousness, but it
is not enough for friendship. If a man can say, "I am not a drunk, I am
not dishonest, I am not unchaste, I am not a violator of the Sabbath, I
am not a liar," so far so good–but such righteousness does not exceed
that of the scribes and Pharisees–and they cannot enter the kingdom of
God!
It is well if you do not willfully transgress, but if you are to be
Christ's friends there must be far more than that. It would be a poor
friendship with your Master which only said, "I am Your friend and to
prove it, I don't insult You, I don't rob You, I don't speak evil of
You." Surely there must be more positive evidence to certify
friendship! The Lord Jesus Christ lays great stress upon positive
duties. It is, "if you do whatever I command you." At the Last Day He
will say, "I was hungry and you gave me meat: I was thirsty and you
gave me drink." In that memorable 25th chapter of Matthew nothing is
said about negative virtues–only positive actions are cited and dwelt
upon in detail.
You know it is an old English saying, "He is my friend who grinds at my
mill." That is to say, friendship shows itself in doing helpful acts
which prove sincerity. Fine words are mere wind and go for nothing if
not backed up with substantial deeds of kindness. Friendship cannot
live on windy talk, it needs the bread of matter of fact. The Inspired
Word says, "Show Me a proof of your love; show it by doing whatever I
command you." We are clear, from the wording of the text, that the
obedience Christ expects from us is continuous. He does not say, "If
you sometimes do what I command you–if you do it on Sundays, for
instance–if you do what I command you in your place of worship, that
will suffice. No, we are to abide in Him and keep His statutes even
unto the end.
I am not now preaching works as the way of salvation but as the
evidences offellowship, which is quite another thing. We must seek in
every place, at all times and under all circumstances to do as Jesus
bids us out of a cheerful spirit of reverence to Him. Such tender,
loving subjection as a godly wife gives to her husband must be gladly
yielded by us throughout life if we are His friends. This obedience
must also be universal. "You are My friends if you do whatever I
command you." No sooner is anything discovered to be the subject of a
command than the man who is a true friend of Christ says, "I will do
it," and he does it. He does not pick and choose which precept he will
keep and which he will neglect, for this is self-will and not
obedience.
I have known some professors err greatly in this matter. They have been
very strict over one point and they have blamed everybody who did not
come up to their strictness, talking as if that one duty fulfilled the
whole Law of God! Straining at gnats has been a very leading business
with many. They have bought a choice assortment of strainers of the
very finest net to get out all the gnats from their cup, but at the
same time, on another day they have opened their mouths and swallowed a
camel without a qualm. This will not do! The test is, "If you do
whatever I command you." I do not mean that little things are
unimportant–far from it. If there is a gnat that Christ bids you
strain, strain it out with great diligence–do not let a midge escape
you if He bids you remove it.
The smallest command of Christ may often be the most important and I
will tell you why. Some things are great, evidently great and, for many
reasons even a hypocritical professor will attend to them. But the test
may lie in the minor points, which hypocrites do not take the trouble
to notice, since no human tongue would praise them for doing them. Here
is the proof of your love. Will you do the smaller thing for Jesus as
well as the more weighty matter? Too many say, "I do not see any use in
it. I can be saved without it. There are a great many different
opinions on the point," and so on. All this comes of evil and is not
consistent with the spirit of friendship with Christ, for love pleases,
even in trifles.
Is it Christ's will? Is it plainly a precept of His Word? Then it is
not yours to reason why, nor to raise any question. The reality of your
subjection to your Lord and Master may hinge upon those seemingly
insignificant points. A domestic servant might place the breakfast on
the table and feel that she had done her duty, but if her mistress told
her to place the salt at the corner and she did not, she would be asked
the cause of her neglect. Suppose she replied to her mistress, "I did
not think it necessary. I placed the breakfast before you, but a little
salt was too trifling a matter for me to troubled about." Her mistress
might answer, "But I told you to be sure and put out the saltcellar.
Mind you, do so tomorrow."
Next morning there is no salt and the maid says she did not see the
need of setting it on the table. Her mistress is displeased and tells
her that her wish must be carried out. Will she not be a very foolish
and vexatious girl if she refuses to do so because she does not see the
need of it? I think it is likely that the young woman would have to
find other employment before long, for such conduct is very annoying.
So it is with those professors who say, "I have attended to the main
things and what I neglect is quite a minor matter." Such are not even
good servants and they can never be friends! I beseech you, dear
Brothers and Sisters, labor after universal obedience. "Whatever He
says to you, do it." Only by an earnest endeavor to carry out the whole
of His will can you live in happy fellowship with Him and be, indeed,
His friends.
Note well that this obedience is to be rendered as to Christ Himself.
Put the emphasis on the little word, I–"You are My friends if you do
whatever I command you." We are to do these things because Jesus
commands them. Does not the royal Person of our Lord cast a very strong
light upon the necessity of obedience? When we refuse to obey, we
refuse to do what the Lord, Himself, commands! When the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of God and our Redeemer, is denied obedience, it is
treason! How can rebels against the King be His Majesty's friends? The
precepts of Scripture are not the commandments of man nor the
ordinances of angels, but the Laws of Christ and how dare we despise
them! We are to act rightly because Jesus commands us and we love to do
His pleasure–there can be no friendship without this. Oh for Grace to
serve the Lord with gladness!
To close this first point, it appears that our Lord would have us obey
Him out of a friendly spirit. Obedience to Christ as if we were forced
to do it under pains and penalties would be of no worth as a proof of
friendship. Everyone can see that. He speaks not of slaves, but of
friends. He would not have us perform duties from fear of punishment or
love of reward. That which He can accept of His friends must be the
fruit of love. His will must be our Law because His Person is our
delight. Some professors need to be whipped to their duties. They must
hear stirring sermons and attend exciting meetings and live under
pressure. But those who are Christ's friends need no spur but love.
"The love of Christ constrains us." True hearts do what Jesus bids them
without flogging and dogging, urging and forcing. Constrained virtue is
spoiled in the making, as many a piece of earthenware is cracked in the
baking. The wine of our obedience must flow freely from the ripe
cluster of the soul's love or it will not be fit for the royal cup.
When duty becomes delight and precepts are as sweet as promises, then
are we Christ's friends and not till then.
II. Having thus set forth what kind of obedience Christ requests, I now
notice, in the second place, that our Lord
leads us to gather from this sentence that THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY HIM
ARE NOT FRIENDS OF HIS. He may
yet look upon them and be their friend by changing their hearts and
forgiving their sins, but as yet they are no friends of His, for a man
who does not obey Christ does not give the Savior His proper place and
this is an unfriendly deed. If I have
a friend, I am very careful that if he has honor anywhere, he shall
certainly have due respect from me. If he is my superior, I am anxious
that he should not think me intrusive, or imagine that I would take
undue advantage of his kindness. He will be higher in my esteem than in
the regard of anyone else.
He who is truly Christ's friend delights to honor Him as a great King,
but he who will not yield Him His sovereign rights is a traitor and not
a friend. Our Lord is the Head over all things to His Church and this
involves the joyful submission of the members. Disobedience denies to
Christ the dignity of that holy Headship which is His prerogative over
all the members of His mystical body and this is not the part of a true
friend. How can you be His friend if you will not admit His rule? It is
vain to boast that you trust His Cross if you do not reverence His
crown! He who does not do His commandments cannot be Christ's friend
because he is not of one mind with Christ–that is evident. Can two
walk together unless they are agreed?
True friendship exists not between those who differ upon first
principles and there can be no points of agreement between Jesus Christ
and the man who will not obey Him, for he, in fact, says, "Lord Jesus,
Your pure and holy will is obnoxious to me! Your sweet and gracious
commands are a weariness to me!" What friendship can be here? They are
not of one mind–Christ is for holiness–this man is for sin! Christ is
for spiritual-mindedness–this man is carnal-minded. Christ is for
love, this man is for self. Christ is for glorifying the Father, this
man is for honoring himself–how can there be any friendship when they
are diametrically opposed in design, object and spirit? It is not
possible!
He who obeys not Christ cannot be Christ's friend though he may profess
to be. He may be a very high and loud professor and for that reason he
may be all the more an enemy of the Cross, for when men see this man
walking according to his own lusts, they cry out, "You, also, were with
Jesus of Nazareth," and they attribute all his faults to his religion
and straightway begin to blaspheme the name of Christ! Through the
inconsistent conduct of our Lord's professed friends, His cause is more
hindered than by anything else! Suppose you and I had some very
intimate associate who was found drunk in the street, or committing
burglary or theft? Should we not feel disgraced by his conduct? When he
was brought before the magistrate would you like to have it said, "This
person is the bosom friend of So-and-So"?
Oh, you would cover your face and beg your neighbors never to mention
it. For such a fellow to be known as your friend would compromise your
name and character. We say this even weeping, that Jesus Christ's name
is compromised and His honor is tarnished among men by many who wear
the name of Christian without having the spirit of Christ! Such cannot
be His dear companions. Alas for the wounds which Jesus has received in
the house of His friends! When Caesar fell, he was slain by the daggers
of his friends! In trust he found treason. Those whose lives he had
spared, spared not his life. Woe to those who, under the garb of
Christianity, crucify the Lord afresh and put Him to an open shame!
Nothing burns Christ's cheeks like a Judas kiss and He has had many
such. Those that obey Him not cannot be acknowledged by Jesus as His
friends, for that would dishonor Him, indeed. Time was–I know not how
it is now–when if any man wanted to be made a count, or to get an
honorable title, he had only to pay so much at Rome into the Papal bank
and he could be made a noble at once. The titles thus purchased were
neither honorable to those who gave them nor to those who received
them. Whatever his pretended vicar may do, our Lord Himself sells no
dignities. The title of "Friends of Jesus" goes with a certain
character and cannot be otherwise obtained.
Those are His friends who obey Him–"If you love Me, keep My
commandments." He grants this patent of nobility to all Believers who
lovingly follow Him, but on His list of friends He enters none beside.
Do you not see that His honor requires this? Would you have our Lord
stand up and say, "The drunk is My friend"? Would you hear Him say,
"That fraudulent bankrupt is My intimate companion"? Would you have
Jesus claim friendly companionship with the vicious and profane? A man
is known by his company–what would be thought of Jesus if His intimate
associates were men of loose morals and unrighteous principles? To go
among them for their good is one thing. To make them His friends is
another.
Where there is no kinship, no likeness, no point of agreement, the fair
flower of friendship cannot take root. We may, therefore, read the text
negatively, "You are not My friends, if you do not the things which I
command you."
III. Our third observation is–THOSE WHO BEST OBEY CHRIST ARE ON THE
BEST OF TERMS WITH HIM. "You are My friends," He seems to say, "and
live near to Me, enjoying practical personal friendship and daily
communion with Me when you promptly obey." Some of you know by personal
experience, Brothers and Sisters, that you cannot walk in holy union
with Christ unless you keep His commandments. There is no feeling of
communion between our souls
and Christ when we are conscious of having done wrong and yet are not
sorry for it. If we know that we have erred, as we often do, and our
hearts break because we have grieved our Beloved and we go and tell Him
our grief and confess our sin, we are still His friends and He kisses
away our tears, saying, "I know your weakness. I willingly blot out
your offenses. There is no breach of friendship between us. I will
still manifest Myself to you."
When we know that we are wrong and feel no softening of heart about it,
then we cannot pray, we cannot speak with the Beloved and we cannot
walk with Him as His friends. Familiarity with Jesus ceases when we
become familiar with known sin. If, again, knowing any act to be wrong
we persevere in it, there cannot be any happy friendship between us and
our Savior. If conscience has told you, dear Brother, that
such-and-such a thing ought to be given up and you continue in it, the
next time you are on your knees you will feel yourself greatly
hampered. And when you sit down before your open Bible and hope to have
communion with Christ as you have formerly enjoyed, you will find that
He has withdrawn Himself and will not be found by you. Is there any
wonder?
If sin lies at the door, how can the Lord smile on us? Secret sin will
poison communion at the fountainhead. If there is a quarrel between you
and Christ and you are hugging to your bosom that which He abhors, how
can you enjoy friendship? He tells you that sin is a viper that will
kill you, but you reply, "It is a necklace ofjewels" and, therefore,
you put it about your neck. Do you wonder that because He loves you He
is grieved at such mad behavior? Oh, do not thus bring injury upon
yourself! Do not thus pour contempt upon His wise commands! Some
Christians will never get into full fellowship with Christ because they
neglect to study His Word and search out what His will is. It ought to
be a serious work with every Christian, especially in commencing his
career, to find what is the will of his Lord on all subjects.
Half the Christian people in the world are content to ask, "What is the
rule of our Church?" That is not the question–the question is–"What
is the rule of Christ?" Some plead, "My father and mother before me did
so." I sympathize, in a measure, with that feeling. Filial reverence
commands admiration, but yet, in spiritual things we are to call no
man, "father," but make the Lord Jesus our Master and exemplar. God has
not placed your conscience in your mother's keeping, nor has He
committed to your father the right or the power to stand responsible
for you–every man must bear his own burden and render his own account.
Search the Scriptures for yourselves, each one of you, and follow no
rule but that which is Inspired. Take your light directly from the sun!
Let holy Scripture be your unquestioned rule of faith and practice and,
if there is any point about which you are uncertain, I charge you by
your loyalty to Christ, if you are His friends, try and find out what
His will is. And when you once are sure upon that point, never mind the
human authorities or dignitaries that oppose His Law. Let there be no
question, no hesitation, no delay. If He commands you, carry out His
will though the gates of Hell thunder at you! You are not His friends,
or, at any rate, you are not His friends so as to enjoy the friendship
unless you resolutely seek to please Him in all things!
The intimacy between you and Christ will be disturbed by sin. You
cannot lean your head upon His bosom and say, "Lord, I know Your will,
but I do not mean to do it." Could you look up into that dear
face–that visage once so marred, now lovelier than Heaven, itself–and
say, "My Lord, I love You, but I will not do Your will in every point"?
By the very love He bears to you, He will chasten you for that
rebellious spirit if you indulge in it! It is a horrible evil! Holy
eyes will not endure it! He is a jealous lover and will not tolerate
sin, which is His rival. "You are My friends if you do whatever I
command you." Oh, Beloved, see to this! Under all the crosses and
losses and trials of life, there is no comfort more desirable than the
confidence that you have aimed at doing your Lord's will.
If a man suffers for Christ's sake while steadily pursuing the course
of holiness, he may rejoice in such suffering. Losses borne in the
defense of the right and the true are gains! Jesus is never nearer His
friends than when they bravely bear shame for His sake. If we get into
trouble by our own folly, we feel the smart at our very heart. But if
we are wounded in our Lord's battles, the scars are honorable. For His
sake we may accept reproach and bind it about us as a wreath of honor.
Jesus delights to be the Companion of those who are cast out by
kinsfolk and acquaintances for the Truth of God's sake and for fidelity
to His Cross.
They may call the faithful one fanatic and enthusiast and all such
ill-sounding names, but over these there is no need to fret, for the
honor of being Christ's friend infinitely outweighs the world's
opinion. When we follow the Lamb wherever He goes, He is responsible
for the results–we are not–
"Though dark is my way, since He is my guide,
'Tis mine to obey, 'tis His to provide."
The consequences which follow from our doing right belong to God! Abhor
the theory that for the sake of a great good you may do a little wrong!
I have heard men say, yes, Christian men, too, "If I were strictly to
follow my convictions I should have to leave a post of great usefulness
and, therefore, I remain where I am and quiet my conscience as well as
I can. I should lose opportunities of doing good which I now possess if
I were to put in practice all I believe and, therefore, I remain in a
position which I could not justify on any other ground."
Is this according to the mind of Jesus? Is this your kindness to your
Friend? How many bow in the house of Rimmon and hope that the Lord will
have mercy upon His servants in this thing? We shall see if it will be
so. We may not do evil that good may come! If I knew that to do right
would shake this whole island I should be bound to do it! God helping
me, I would do it! And if I heard that a wrong act would apparently
bless a whole nation, I have no right to do wrong on that account. No
bribe of supposed usefulness should purchase our conscience. Right is
right and must always end in blessing–and wrong is wrong and must
always end in curse, though for a while it may wear the appearance of
surpassing good. Did not the devil lead our first parents astray by the
suggestion that great benefit would arise out of their transgression?
"Your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as gods," said the
arch-deceiver!
Would it not be a grand thing for men to grow unto gods? "Certainly,"
says Eve, "I would not lose the opportunity. The race which is yet to
be would blame me if I did. I would not have men remain inferior
creatures through my neglect." For the sake of the promised good, she
ventured upon evil. Thousands of people sin because it seems so
advantageous, so wise, so necessary, so sure to turn out well. Hear
what Christ says–"You are My friends if you do whatever I command
you." If you do evil that good may come, you cannot walk with Jesus!
But if your heart is set towards His statutes you shall find Him loving
you and taking up His abode with you.
IV. Fourthly, by our text we are taught that THE MOST FRIENDLY ACTION A
MAN CAN DO FOR JESUS IS TO OBEY HIM–"You are My friends if you do
whatever I command you." Rich men have thought to do the most friendly
act possible towards Christ by giving an immense sum to build a church,
or to found almshouses or schools. If they are Believers and have done
this thing as an act of obedience to Christ's Law of stewardship, they
have done well and the more of such munificence the better. But where
splendid benefactions are given out of ostentation, or from the idea
that some merit will be gained by the consecration of a large amount of
wealth, the whole business is unacceptable!
If a man should give all the substance of his house for love it would
utterly be contemned. Jesus asks not lavish expenditure, but ourselves.
He has made this the token of true love–"If you do whatever I command
you." "To obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of
rams." However much we are able to give, we are bound to give it and
should give it cheerfully. But if we suppose that any amount of giving
can stand as a substitute for personal obeying we are greatly mistaken.
To bring our wealth and not to yield our hearts is to give the casket
and steal the jewels. How dare we bring our sacrifice in a leprous
hand? We must be cleansed in the atoning blood before we can be
accepted and our hearts must be changed before our offering can be pure
in God's sight.
Others have imagined that they could show their friendliness to Christ
by some remarkable action of self-mortification. Among Romanists,
especially in the old times, it was believed that misery and merit went
together and so men tortured themselves that they might please God.
They went for many a day without washing themselves or their clothes
and fancied that they thus acquired the odor of sanctity! I do not
believe that Jesus thinks a man any more His friend because he is
dirty. Some have put on a hair shirt, or have worn a chain belt next to
their skin which made raw wounds. I do not think that the kind Lord
Jesus counts these things to be friendly acts. Ask any humane person
whether he would be gratified by knowing that a friend wore a hair
shirt for his sake and he would answer, "Pray let the poor creature
wear whatever is most comfortable to him and that will please me best."
The loving Jesus takes no delight in pain and discomfort–the starving
of the body is no doctrine of His. John the Baptist might be an
ascetic, but certainly Jesus was not–He came eating and drinking, a
man among men! He did not come to demand the rigors of a hermitage or a
monastery, else He had never been seen at feasts. When we hear of the
nuns of St. Ann sleeping bolt upright in their coffins, we take no
particular satisfaction in their doing so–a kind heart would beg them
to go to bed. I went to a monastery some time ago and over each bed was
a little cat-o'nine tails, which I sincerely hope was used to the
satisfaction of the possessor, but I did not copy the idea and buy a
couple for my sons! Neither have I sent one to each of my special
friends, for I should never ask them to flog themselves as a proof of
friendship!
Our Lord cannot be gratified by self-inflicted, self-invented tortures!
These things are will-worship, which is no worship at all! You may fast
40 days if you like, but you will gain no merit by it. Jesus Christ has
not demanded this as the gauge of friendship, neither will He regard us
as His friends for this. He says, "You are My friends if you do
whatever I command you," but He does not command you to starve, or to
wear sackcloth, or to shut yourselves up in a cell. Pride invents these
things, but Grace teaches obedience! Certain persons have thought it
would be the noblest form of holy service to enter into brotherhoods
and sisterhoods. They fancied that they would be Christ's friends,
indeed, if they joined "the Society of Jesus."
I have sometimes asked myself whether it might not be well to form a
league of Christian men all banded together, to live alone for Jesus
and to give themselves up entirely and wholly to His work–but
assuredly the formation of guilds, sisterhoods, or brotherhoods other
than the great brotherhood of the Church of God is a thing never
contemplated in the New Testament–you shall find no foreshadowing of
Franciscans and Dominicans there! All godly women were Sisters of Mercy
and all Christ-like men were of the Society of Jesus, but of monastic
and conventual vows we read nothing! That which is not commanded in
Scripture is superstition! We are to worship God according to His will,
not according to our will.
And though I were to consecrate myself entirely to what Papists called
the "religious life" and get away from the associations of ordinary men
and try to spend my whole time in lonely contemplations, yet there
would be nothing in it, because the Lord Jesus never required it at my
hands. The thing that He does ask for is that we will do whatever He
commands us. Why is it that people try to do something which He never
commanded? A schoolmaster will suffer me to appeal to him on this
point. If he said to a boy in the school, "Now is the time for you to
take your slate and attend to arithmetic," and the boy, instead,
fetched his copy-book, would he not ask if he had understood him? If,
after a few minutes, he finds the boy writing, does he say, "You have
written that line very well?" Not at all! It is small matter whether
the writing is well or ill done, for to be writing at all when he was
told to be ciphering is a gross act of insubordination!
So is it with you and me. We may do something else and do it splendidly
well and other people may say, "What a pious man he is." But if we do
not the Lord's will, we shall not be His friends. We may wear a piece
of leather for a sandal and brown serge for a garment and not wear
boots and coats, but there is no Grace in apparel! Excellence lies in
doing what Christ has commanded! Some think it a very friendly act
towards Christ to attend many religious services in a consecrated
building. They are at matins and vespers and feasts and fasts without
number. Some of us prefer to have our religious services each day in
our own homes and it will be a dreadful thing when family prayer is
given up for public services. But a number of people think little of
family devotion–they need to go to the parish church or to some other
temple made with hands–but let no man dream that Jesus is thus made
our friend!
We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the
manner of some is. It is well to be found meeting with God's people as
often as we can. But still, you may multiply your sacraments and
increase your ceremonies and you may attend to this service and to the
other service until your heart is worn away with grinding at the mill
of outward religion–but you are Christ's friends only if you do
whatever He commands you–that is a better test than early communion or
daily "mass." It comes to this, dear friends, that we must steadily,
carefully, persistently, cheerfully do the will of God from the heart
in daily life–from the first waking moment till our eyes are closed.
Say concerning everything, "What would Jesus have me do about this?
What is the teaching of Christ as to this?" "Whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
unto God and the Father by Him."
You may be a domestic servant and never be able to give a pound to
church work, but you are Jesus' friend if you do whatever He commands
you. You may be a housewife and not able to do anything outside of the
little family which requires all your attention, but if you are
fulfilling your duty to your children, doing that which Christ commands
you, you are among the friends of Jesus! You may be only a plain
working man, or a tradesman with a small shop. Nobody hears of your
name, but if you set the example of honesty, uprightness and piety,
doing all things as to Christ because He has saved you, He will call
you His friend. What patent of nobility can equal this? Friendship with
Christ is worth a thousand dukedoms!
The practical outcome of it all is this–examine every question as to
duty by the light of this one enquiry–"Will this be a friendly action
to Christ? If I do this, shall I act as Christ's friend? Will my
conduct honor Him? Then I am glad. If it will dishonor Him, I will have
nothing to do with it." Set each distinct action, as far as you are
able, in the scales and
let this be the weight–is it a friendly action towards your Redeemer?
I wish that we all lived as if Jesus were always present, as if we
could see His wounds and gaze into His lovely countenance. Suppose that
tomorrow you are brought into temptation by being asked to do something
questionable? Decide it this way–if Jesus could come in at that moment
and show you His hands and His feet, how would you act in His sight?
Behave as you would act under the realized Presence of the
Well-Beloved. You would not do anything unkind to Him, would you?
Certainly you would not do anything to grieve Him if you saw Him before
your eyes! Well, keep Him always before you. The Psalmist cried, "I
have set the Lord always before me." You will need much of the Holy
Spirit's anointing to do this. May God give it to you. Live, dear
Friends, as if Christ would come at once and detect you in the very
act. Do that which you would not be ashamed of if the next instant you
should see the Lord sitting on the Throne of His Glory and calling you
before His bar. Thus living, you shall delight yourself in the
abundance of peace–
"So shall your walk be close with God,
Calm and serene your frame.
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads you to the Lamb."
Obedience will gladden you with the blissful Presence of your Lord and
in that Presence you shall find fullness of joy. You shall be the
envied of all wise men, for you shall be the beloved of the Lord. And
your pathway, if it is not always smooth, shall always be safe, for
Jesus never leaves His friends and He will never leave you! He will
keep you even to the end. May this be my happy case and yours. Amen.
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Faith Working By Love