I propose more especially to take up the latter half of the verse, and to mark—
I. What God would have us to follow;
II. What God would have us to consider.
I. What is it, then, which God would have us to follow? The faith of those who are “guides.”
This leads me to observe one view which every Christian ought to take of his position. He is called to be a guide in the faith—by his life, if not by his words.
Now, brethren, I am aware that this is held to be almost exclusively the duty of ministers. The text is usually so applied. I have no wish to shift off the responsibility from them. They, if any, ought to go before the flock. Nor do I wish to put young Christians out of their proper place.
But I do hold very strongly that this responsibility of ministers is shared by all the servants of Christ. Whatever their position—whatever their measure of grace or gifts, they are called of God to lead on others in the faith, in some measure. One star may differ from another star in glory, or degree of brightness. One member of the body may differ from another in size and shape. But the least star has its place and power, and the least member its work and fitness for that work (1 Cor. xii. 21, 22). And so of each Christian. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Your standing as a Christian may not be advanced. Your measure of grace, to your own thinking, may be somewhat scant—but your working and example up to the extent of that grace, are necessary for the well-being of the whole body. To you, as well as to others, is this word spoken “Ye are my witnesses,” and by you, as well as by others, may comfort be afforded to some soul not yet gathered, some sheep yet straying upon the dark mountains. None are too small in God’s sight to be useful. None are so low down but they may help to lift up others. Every atom has a shadow. Every Christian has an influence. Believe me there is no such thing as an idle life—you are either a blight or a blessing.
This, then, I say, is one view which every Christian ought to take of his position. If he has faith, he has a faith to be followed. And this, too, is the view which others are to take of every such Christian. Wherever any such have realised their high calling, and risen to it, there would God have us remember them, and follow, or imitate, their faith.
But whilst I say this of all, it is emphatically true with respect to those who, by the grace of God, were, in faith, what they were.
Need I say that, until very lately, we had one in our midst who did take a right view of his position, and who has left a pattern of faith which we should be only too glad to follow.