Trait 5.
TRAIT 5.
His entire devotion to Jesus Christ.
THE true Christian, called to become a disciple of the blessed Jesus, rather than refuse the offered privilege, renounces his, all. If this token of devotion to Christ is discernible in the character of every true Christian, it is still more conspicuous in the character of every true minister. Such a person inwardly called by the grace of God to a state of discipleship with Christ, and outwardly consecrated to such a state by the imposition of hands, gives himself unreservedly up to the service of his condescending Master. He withstands no longer that permanent command of our exalted Lord, to which his first disciples showed so cheerful a submission, “Follow me.” Nor is he discouraged, while Christ continues, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,” Matthew 16:24. “No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God,” Luke 9:62. “He that loveth father or mother, son or daughter, more than me, is not worthy of me.” He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it,” Matthew 10:37-39. If there be found any pastor who cannot adopt the solemn appeal of the first ministers of Christ, “Lo, we have left all, and followed thee,” Luke 18:28, that man is in no situation to copy the example of his forerunners in the Christian Church, and is altogether unworthy the character he bears; since without this detachment from the world, and this devotion to the Son of God, he flatters himself in vain, that he is either a true minister or a real member of Jesus Christ.
Observe the declaration of one whose attachment to his Divine Master deserves to be had in everlasting remembrance: “Those things which were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in him, having the righteousness which is of God by faith,” Philippians 3:7, 8, 9. “For none of us,” true Christians or true ministers, “liveth to himself, or dieth to himself; but whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord,” Romans 14:7, 8.
Professing to be either a minister or a believer of the Gospel without this entire devotion to Jesus Christ is to live in a state of the most dangerous hypocrisy: it is neither more nor less than saying, Lord! Lord! without having a firm resolution to do what our gracious Master has commanded.