And observe the force of the words “go again.” It does not matter how often you have been there before. It may be once, or twice, or thrice. This is not the question. “Let us go again,” is the motto for the pastoral heart, for there is always a demand for the pastoral work. Matters are always springing up in the various places in which “the Word of the Lord” has been preached and received, demanding the labors of the divinely-qualified pastor.
No human language could adequately set forth the value and importance of real pastoral work. Would there were more of it among us! It often nips in the bud evils which might grow to terrible proportions. This is true in a special manner in this day of spiritual poverty. There is immense need — a demand on the evangelist, to think of “the regions beyond” — a demand on the pastor to “go again and visit his brethren, in every city” where “the Word of the Lord” has been preached, “and see how they do.”
Do you possess anything of a pastoral heart? If so, may you think of those comprehensive words, “Let me go again.” Have you been acting on them? Have you been thinking of your brethren — of those “who have obtained like precious faith” — those who, by receiving “the Word of the Lord,” have become spiritual brethren? Are your interests and sympathies engaged on behalf of “every city” in which a spiritual link has been formed with the Head above?
Feed my Sheep
O, how the heart longs for a greater exhibition of holy zeal and energy, of individual and independent devotedness — independent, I mean, not of the fellowship of the truly spiritual, but of every influence which would tend to clog and hinder that elevated service to which each one is distinctly called, in responsibility to the Master alone.
Let us beware of the cumbrous machinery of religious routine and of false order. Let us beware, too, of indolence, of love of personal ease, of a false economy, which would lead us to attach an undue importance to the matter of expense. The silver and the gold are the Lord’s, and His sheep are far more precious to Him than silver and gold. His words are,
“Lovest thou Me? feed My sheep.”
If only there is the heart to do this, the means will never be wanting. How often may we detect ourselves spending money, unnecessarily, on the table, the wardrobe, and the library, which would be amply sufficient to carry us to “the regions beyond,” to preach the gospel, or to “every city,” in order to “visit our brethren”!
May the Lord grant unto us an earnest self-denying spirit, a devoted heart to Him and to His most holy service, a true desire for the spread of His gospel, and the spiritual prosperity of His people.
The Interests of Christ
May the time past of our lives suffice us to have lived and labored for self and its interests, and may the time to come be given to Christ and His interests. Let us not allow our treacherous hearts to deceive us by plausible reasonings about domestic, commercial or other claims. All such should be strictly attended to, no doubt. A well-regulated mind will never offer to God a sacrifice arising out of the neglect of any just claim. If I am at the head of a family, the claims of that family must be duly responded to. If I am at the head of a business, the claims of that business must be duly met. If I am a hired servant, I must attend to my work. To fail in any of these would be to dishonor the Lord, instead of serving Him.
The Regions Beyond
But, allowing the widest possible margin for all righteous claims, let us ask, are we doing all we can for “the regions beyond,” and for “our brethren, in every city where we have preached the Word of the Lord”? Has there not been a culpable abandonment both of evangelistic and pastoral work? Have we not allowed domestic and commercial ties to act unduly upon us? And what has been the result? What have we gained? Have our children turned out well, and our commercial interests prospered? Has it not often happened that, where the Lord’s work has been neglected, the children have grown up in carelessness and worldliness? And as to business, have we not often toiled all the night, and gazed on an empty net in the morning?
On the other hand, where the family and the circumstances have been left, with artless confidence, in the hand of the Lord, have they not been far better cared for? Let these things be deeply pondered, with an honest heart and a single eye, and we shall be sure to arrive at just conclusions.
See How They Do
Notice the fullness of the expression, “see how they do.” How very much is involved in these words! “How they do,” publicly, socially, privately. “How they do,” in doctrine, in association, in walk. “How they do,” spiritually, morally, relatively. In a word, “how they do,” in every way.
Let us always remember that this seeing how our brethren do must never resolve itself into a curious, prying, gossiping, busybody spirit — a spirit that wounds and heals not, that meddles and mends not. To all who would visit us in such a spirit as this, we should, assuredly, say, “Be far from hence.”
But, to all who would carry out Acts 15:3636And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. (Acts 15:36), we desire to say, “Our hands, our hearts, our houses, are wide open; come in, ye blessed of the Lord. ‘If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide.’” O Lord, be pleased to raise up evangelists to visit “the regions beyond;” and pastors to visit, again and again, “the brethren in every city.”
“Lovest thou Me?.... Feed My lambs.”
“Lovest thou Me?.... Shepherd My sheep.”
John 21:15-1615So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15‑16).
Young Christian, Vol. 19