If there is one lack in souls more marked than many others, it is feebleness of understanding as to these two great points — hearing and following.
The quietness of communion is but little known, not to say enjoyed, in this busy, active day. How truly the moment speaks loudly of unrest and unreality, and how little is known, even among the saints, of that deep, personal, unexpressed joy in Christ.
The satisfaction of the heart in the personal nearness to Christ—the being in His company for the simple joy of it—is true communion. Thus it is we have common thoughts with Him, which is the meaning of communion. When this is the case, we know the mind of our Lord and Master, and this it is which qualifies us for every service as Christ’s confidential servants. It is well to bear in mind that the amount of our service or the laboriousness of our work do not of themselves constitute us confidential servants.
There is a very intimate connection between the two attitudes of soul we are considering; in fact, they wait the one on the other. It is very blessed to see the producing and maintaining power of hearing and following Christ. In a word, it is Christ, for He and He alone is the blessed source and spring of all that has its rise and satisfaction in Himself. To be a good listener, one must be both free and at rest.
Following seems to come in as a consequence of what we have had before us: “My sheep hear My voice ... and they follow Me.” As it is the Shepherd’s voice that is heard and known by the sheep, so it is the Shepherd Himself they follow. He it is who has gone before. In John 10 we find the blessed Lord, scorned and reproached, leaving the ancient fold of Judaism, and thus going before His sheep. He is the security to all His own, for His way is the true way, as well as the authority for the sheep to follow Him. He is their hiding place from danger and their safe conduct for the way.
It is very blessed to see how they know His voice (vss. 4-5). They may not know all the false voices of strangers, but their security is in knowing His voice, and they likewise follow because they know it. It is very blessed to be allowed to serve, but many a one serves who is not following. Would that there were more who were willing to follow a rejected Lord and Master, and to esteem it their holiest joy to tread the path He has walked in! Rough it may be, but it has been trodden by Himself, who has left His own mark upon every rose and every thorn.
“A little while, He’ll come again!
Let us the precious hours redeem;
Our only grief to give Him pain,
Our joy to serve and follow Him.”
W. T. Turpin (adapted)