The King's Own Face, Pt 2

"HOLINESS" by JC Ryle

As I continued reading, I came to Ryle's wonderful words about how Jesus treated His disciples, and I decided to add that to my search as I read through the gospels. Jesus is a lovely Savior - so perfect in how He lives and handles the people around Him. We have a perfect example to follow, a perfect spiritual Mentor in Christ. Be encouraged, not only in the kind of Savior YOU have, but in following the example He sets of how we should treat one another.

"The whole of our Lord's conduct towards His disciples on earth deserves close consideration. It throws a beautiful light on the compassion and longsuffering that there is in Him. No master surely ever had scholars so slow to learn their lessons as Jesus had in the apostles. No scholars surely ever had so patient and forbearing a teacher as the apostles had in Christ. "

"At no time of our Lord's ministry did they seem to comprehend fully the object of His coming into the world. The plainest words and clearest warnings from their Master of what was going to befall Him seemed to have had no effect on their minds.... But what do you see in our Lord's behavior towards these disciples all through His ministry? You see nothing but unchanging pity, compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, longsuffering and love. He does not cast them off for their stupidity. He does not reject them for their unbelief. He does not dismiss them for ever for cowardice. He teaches them as they are able to bear. He leads them step by step, as a nurse does an infant when it first begins to walk."

"He cares for the least member of His body, as well as for the greatest. He cares for the babes of His family as well as the grown-up men. All are in His book of life, and all are under His charge. All are given to Him in an everlasting covenant, and He has undertaken, in spite of all weaknesses, to bring every one safe home. Only let a sinner lay hold on Christ by faith, and then, however feeble, Christ's word is pledged to him: 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' He may correct him occasionally in love. He may gently reprove him at times. But He will never, never give him up."

"That same Lord and Savior who bore with the disciples is ready and willing to bear with you. If you stumble, He will raise you. If you err, He will gently bring you back. If you faint, He will revive you."

Wow. Again, what a beautiful Savior we have in Christ. So, as I venture forth to study the gospels, I want to have eyes to see deeply how Christ loved and walked with His little beloved flock. It will be comforting to see, on my own behalf, and inspiring to be challenged onward in my love for the flock of God that I personally rub shoulders with in life. Onward.