July 31

If I then, your lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. - John 13:14.

HERE is their obligation involved in the title they ascribe to him! In exemplification of this let us notice, First, He claims our exclusive service. If he then is our Lord and Master, we ought to renounce connection with every other. This is not only becoming, but it is absolutely necessary, for “no man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other: ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” “Call no man master upon earth, for one is your Master even Christ, and all ye are brethren.” Thus he releases his subjects from every other authority as to conscience but his own; and if we “stand fast in the liberty wherewith he has made us free,” we shall never implicitly resign our understanding, our creed, or our obedience to any man, nor shall we follow him further than he followeth Christ; let us therefore remember that our Saviour here designs to set us free from the yoke of bondage to custom, to tradition, to councils, to superstition, to will worship, and to all authority in religion but his own.

Secondly, Then we ought to obey his commandments. There cannot be a better evidence of sincerity than this. “If ye love me,” says he, “keep my commandments.” We are not our own masters, and therefore we are not “to live to ourselves,” “nor to the lusts of men, but to the will of God,” ever saying, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” For a knowledge of his orders we must repair to the Scriptures. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,” and do them impartially; for though imperfect obedience may be sincere, partial obedience cannot. We must avoid all he forbids, and do all that he enjoins, “esteeming all his commandments concerning all things to be right, and hating every false way.”

Thirdly, Then we ought to submit to his appointments. And he gives us our work when, and where and how we shall labour and serve him.

Fourthly, Then we ought to imitate him. “If any serve” me, he says in another place, “let him follow me.” “If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself and take up the cross and follow me.” We see this exemplified and enjoined here: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another’s feet, for I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” This does not regard the letter but the Spirit of the action. Why, the letter may be maintained without the Spirit. The Pope annually washes the feet of a few paupers in a silver vessel. And, on the other hand, the Spirit may be maintained without the letter.

Fifthly, We should esteem all we have as his, and act accordingly. Our endowments and our talents, whatever they may be, these are to be preserved, employed, and improved for him.

Sixthly, We should be willing to partake with him in his estates. If we are to “reign with him” hereafter, we must “suffer with him” now. If we are to live with him in heaven, we are to be dead with him on earth. Do we feel anything of this now? When his word has free course, and runs and is glorified; when sinners are added to the Church daily; when professors walk worthy their high vocation, does this delight us? On the other hand, are we grieved for the afflictions of his people; and is the reproach of Christ our burden; and are we humbled and grieved when we hear of the miscarriages of professors? How desirable is it that we should feel this oneness of mind and heart with the Lord Jesus. And this will be the case if we are found faithful to the obligations under which we are placed.

Seventhly, Then we may depend upon him for all the advantages of the relation. The Apostle writing to the Colossians says, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.”