The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-09-02
In THE MASTERS
E
By REV. JOHN H. KERR
Pastor Arlington Presbyterian Church
New York

Text: For even h%ereunto We're We called;
because Christ also suffered for us, leav-
Ing us an example that We should follow
his steps.-Peter H.. q.
When the apostle Pau wrote those
words he referred specifically to h
example of our Lord under suffering.
Furthermore, 1t is worthy to note that
his words were primarily addressed to
those who were slaves.
1t is not at all my purpose to use
only this one side of the Masters eX-
ample. I want rather to gather to-
gether from a wider range than this
one text some of the leading charac-
teristics of the example set us by our
Lord. His is an ideal character OF
the ages, and we cannot too often
bring before our minds it's salient fea-
lures.
The word example" here is the
translation of a word which Is used
only in this place in the New Tesla
ment. 1t means a writing copy"
such as might be found in a ch1ld's
exercise book and designated as an
aid in learning how to write correctly.
The word follow" is emphatic and
implies close and dilligent following.
II we catch the full meaning of the
text, 1t is necessary to bear In mind
these facts with reference to the two
most important words in 1t.
"In the Masters steps," He has left
us an example that we should follow
his steps. The Master himself on
several occasions cited his w acts
as the only M to be initiated by his
followers. Thus he said concerning
an act he had just performed: Il
have given you an example, that We
should do as I have done to you" Or.
again: This is my commandment, that
We love one another, even as I have
loved you" So the apostle Paul cites
our Lords example, saying: Have this
mind in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus" And in another place we read:
Let each one of us please his neigh
Dor for tina which is good, unto edify-
ing. For Christ also pleased not
himself" The apostles aim in life
was to reproduce as far as he could
the life of his Lord. For to me to
live is Christ"
One of the reasons why sit behooved
him in all things to be made like unto
his brethren" was that he might show
us the possibilities of which u ma
lures are capable. Man needed to see
how an ideal person acts. In add
ton to that which our Redeemer must
do to make atonement for our sins, he
must also set us an example in his
nu-r 1ifn ca tbof Wn MIGHT have q
model after which we should attempt
to conform ouS lives.
Of course there Nere many things
about our Lords life that we could not
initiate, but there are other aspects
of it which we must initiate. If we
are to be able successfully to lay
claim to his discipleship. We must
walk in the Masters steps.
In obeying the Fathers will. The
psalmist has said: "Lo, I am come; in
the roll of the book it is written of me;
I delight to do thy will, o my God"
The writer of the epistle to tie He
brews applies those words to Jesus,
whilst he himself said: MY meat Is
to do the will of him that sent me
anu W dSSOLupI1SA us Will. LdtCl LII
his ministry in the presence of a great
multitude, Jesus affirmed: Il am come
down from heaven, not to do mine
own will, but the will of him that
sent me-" And in his last prayer
with his disciples he said: 81 glori-
fed thee on the earth, having accom-
plished the work which thou hast
given me to do" Though he was a
Son, yet learned his obedience by the
things which he suffered.
Obedience Is about the first thing
the follower of Christ has to learn.
Obedience is the Masters test. Eye
are my friends, if We do the things
which l command you" No amount of
protestation that we are his followers
will take the place Of obedience.
We should follow in the Masters
steps in resisting temptation. Our
Lord hath been in all points tempt
el like We are, yet without sim" Nor
were the temptations of our Lord mat
tiers of little moment. He suffered
being tempted" The conflict with
Satan at the beginning of our Lords
ministry was a tremendous reality.
Temptation once came to him in the
words of Peter, so that Jesus said to
him: "Get thee behind me, Satan;
thou art a stumbling block unto me-"
So again and again our Lord was
tempted. 1t is to be wondered at that
he should say so solemnly to his dis
ciples, just as he was about to leave
them: Watch and pray, that We en-
ter not into temptItion." We follow
in the Masters steps when We resist
temptation. What an encouragement
it is to be assured that the Lord
knoweth how to deliver the godly out
of temptation"
In prayer is another way to follow
in his steps. Our Lord repeatedly
prayer. And this was not merely for
its effect on his disciples. The Mas
ter prayed because he needed thus to
hold communion with the Father. Re-
member the TRANSPORTATION scene on
Mount Hermon, when, as he prayed
his c~ountenance was changed, and his
whole person became radiant with
glory. Our Lord said: Watch and
pray" If he needed to pray. much
more do we.
If we follow in his steps, we will
be regular attendants on divine wor-
ship. The record tells us that it was
his custom to go to the synagogue on
the Sabbath day. That simply means
that he was himself an habitual at.
tendant on divine worship.