If we know the three things we have described, viz.: (1) self discovered, (2) the need met, and (3) power given, we are in a position "AFTER THESE THINGS" to hear the Lord saying to us in commanding power, "Follow Me." We then have ears to hear. We are freed from self-occupation, and have a power enabling us to respond to the Lord's call.
It is indeed blessed above all the babel of tongues, the shibboleth of sects, the cry of parties, to hear the soul-absorbing commanding words, "Follow ME." We may quarrel about doctrines, but how can we differ about Him? In following Him we find rest to our souls, and learn that His yoke is easy and His burden light. As we often sing:
"Jesus, Thou art enough
The mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life-to calm the soul;
Thy love-its fear dispel."
Levi was sitting at the receipt of custom when these two words reached his ears. There is nothing much more detaining than money. 'What is detaining you? What hinders any of us from following the Lord heartily, earnestly, and thoroughly? Each heart alone can give the answer. But in the incident before us Levi responded. The call met with a response. The Lord's words were more powerful than money. We read, "And he left all, rose up, and followed HIM."
Again note how exact is the wording of Scripture. If I went to the door, and beckoned someone to follow me, the first thing he would do would be to rise up, and then follow me. But in Levi's case we find an action prior to his rising up, and without the previous action I venture to say the weight of his money-bags would have tied him to his seat. We read, " He left all, rose up, and followed Him." If the second action was physical, the first was certainly moral. What power those two words, "Follow Me," must have carried when they produced such an inward operation as to free
Levi in his spirit from all that would detain him, so that it was an easy thing for him to rise up and follow the Lord. Had he tried to rise before he had left all, the strings of his money bags would have held him down, but having left all they had no more detaining power than spiders' webs. I would urge upon the young Christians, Let it be all for Christ. Let every detaining link be broken. Be out-and-out for Him. He is worthy.
"But must I leave my business?" says one; and "must I leave my wife or husband?" asks another.
Yes, let every link be broken, and then take up your links as from HIM, and hold them as His steward. He may call you from your fishing nets, like Peter, or the receipt of custom, like Levi. Are you ready to be a fisher for men? Or He may leave you in your business, and then, if you follow the Lord, you will be a faithful business man. I don't say a successful one necessarily, but a faithful one. I met a Christian in the States, and afterward saw him in this country. He said, "I now know why, I came to England, and I am returning to America having learned a valuable lesson." "What have you learned?" I inquired. "I have found," said he, "that I must run my business for Christ." If you do all for Christ, be you in an exalted or humble condition, it will put the beauty of holiness on all you do, whether it be cleaning boots or scouring pots and pans. You have heard of the servant girl, who, when asked how she knew she was a Christian, replied, "I sweep under the mats now." Again, if the husband puts Christ and His interests first the wife will be the gainer. The Ephesian husband is the best of all husbands, loving his wife, nourishing and cherishing her, even as the Lord nourishes and cherishes the church.
These are days of self-seeking, money-grubbing, ease-loving—days of growing indifference and Laodicean lukewarmness. May this be a trumpet call to your soul, dear young believer. The Lord says to you, "Follow Me."