| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 13 |
Page 2 |
The passage begins by telling how we may be Christ’s disciples. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” It is not enough to begin — abiding, continuing, is the test. A disciple is a learner, a pupil. It is not enough for one to enter a school. Mere enrollment will not make anyone a pupil. The pupil must continue in the school all through the long course, studying subject after subject, until he has mastered the whole curriculum. The same is true in business and in all callings. Life is a school. The course is a long one. It is not finished in a day, but fills all the days of one’s life. The lessons, too, are long ones—
These lessons Thou dost give
To teach me how to live,
To do, to bear,
To get, to share,
To work and play,
And trust away.
The man who is faithful, who persists and perseveres unto the end, is the one who succeeds. Missing lessons anywhere in the course leaves a blank. Many begin well, with diligence and earnestness, but lose interest in a little while, let their courage falter, and fail in their course. They grow weary and give up. This is true of many in all lines of work. A writer, speaking of the failure of some ministers to succeed, says that they enter the ministry with great enthusiasm and promise, but after a little while settle down into a dead level, lose their enthusiasm, and soon are heard of no more. It is true also in Christian life. There are thousands who begin to follow Christ, but who, when discouragement comes, give up and sink back again into the world. Jesus told His enthusiastic followers that an ardent beginning was not enough — they must continue unto the end.
Page 2