The Sabbath Hour

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1940, Page 12

The Sabbath Hour

(Address by Major Canty, Salvation Army, Whangarei). Texts: “Christ also suffered for us. leaving us an example, that we should follow in His .steps” (1 Peter 2: 21). “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2: 5). Neither Peter nor Paul tells us that the only object for which Christ came and suffered was to be an example. But this was one object, and a very important one. The word rendered “example” here means a written copy, such as is set for children, or an outline or sketch such as a painter would be required to fill up. The meaning is that Christ is a pattern for our imitation. We are to walk in His steps. Let us consider first, our great need of such an example as Christ is. Our very nature is such as to require an example for imitation. Precepts are easily forgotten, commands may lose their force, but men are universally influenced by example. Neither precept nor command seems as powerful in influencing life as does the presence of a worthy example. But the best of men have imperfections, and are therefore not fit to become our example in all things. The Bible says if we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves among ourselves we are not wise. We see, therefore, the need of a perfect example. The Governments of the world have gone to great pains and much expense to procure a perfect standard of weights and measures. If we take such pains with things of time, how much more necessary it is, then, that in preparation for eternity we find a standard absolutely true, that can never vary, and that cannot be destroyed. This standard is Jesus Christ. He is the One and the only One it is perfectly safe for us to copy.

ll.—Notice a few of the perfections of virtues exemplified by Christ. One was His perfect humility. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.” Another was His self-denial. His whole life was one continued exemplification of this virtue. He sought not His own glory or ease or comfort. “He pleased not himself.” “He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Another was His devotion to God. Christ exhibited perfect obedience to His Father’s will, and He constantly and supremely regarded His Father’s honour. It was meet for Him to do His Father's will. This is the pattern which we should set always before us of obedience and devotion to God. Another was His devotion to the good of others. He sought not His own. He went about doing good. Neither His own honour nor advantage was the end He pursued. His love was literally universal, and His acts of goodness constant. His whole conduct was governed by that glorious principle: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Another was His patience and submission under suffering and endurance of injuries. Never was such ingratitude, disrespect, indifference, malice and contempt heaped on another head. Yet there was no resentfulness. He never returned evil for evil. He never threatened. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered, threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously; Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree that we, being dead to sin. shouldTlve unto righteousness.” Well might we imitate Him in all these perfections, as also in His manner of resisting temptation, His manner of rebuking sinners, His qualities as a teacher and the heroic firmness with which He endured His trials. These all invest His character with a greatness and a glory to which there can be no parallel. An amateur once brought a number of his sketches to a great artist and asked his judgment of their merit. They had little or no merit, but the artist was very kind, and refrained from saying anything to hurt the feelings of the amateur. At last, taking up one and looking at it attentively, he said gently: “You had a magnificent landscape before you when you made this sketch.” This was something. The young artist had selected something that was worth sketching. There was something before him worthy of his best efforts. Such is the case with everyone who tries to fashion his life after the pattern of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The life we live may not be like His, but, like the artist, we can at least show that we had before us a perfect pattern for our imitation.

lll.—Let us remember, too, that the imitation of Christ is not an optional matter with us, but authoritative, that we should “follow in His steps.” He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk “even as He walked.” “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me..” The example of Christ is not merely a bright and beautiful pattern which we are invited to copy because this conduct will be pleasing or honourable or useful to us, but it is a law also requiring us, 1 by divine authority, to “go and do likewise,” to walk even as He walked, and to let the same mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. In other words, we are under obligation to imitate Christ. God requires of us that we shall strive to reproduce Christ’s character in our own, to resemble Him in all the personal and moral beauty of His divine character. Are we observing the steps of Christ and trying to put our feet where His have trod? Are we daily trying to reproduce His life in ours? John Ruskin used to warn students in art against copying inferior paintings. He told them to go to the galleries and sit down before the masterpieces of the greatest artists and copy them. The masterpiece of Christian living is that of Jesus of Nazareth. Copy that. Look away from imperfect Christians to the perfect Christ. He hath left us an example that we should follow in His steps. Christ is before men as their model.. Why should they follow others?