He cannot be My disciple
Christ requires supreme regard
I. THE POSSESSIONS WHICH JESUS CHRIST REQUIRES US TO FORSAKE IN ORDER TO OUR BECOMING HIS DISCIPLES. In our text Jesus Christ authoritatively asserts the absolute right and the first claim to all that we have and to all that we are. Ourselves and our possessions are to be His. We are to consider ourselves not as proprietors, but only as stewards.
1. Christ requires us to forsake the world and the things of the world.
2. Christ requires us to exercise self-denial, and to bear the cross daily.
3. Jesus Christ requires us to forsake our own relatives, whenever they would hinder us from following Him.
4. Jesus Christ requires you to forsake even life itself rather than renounce Him and His cause.
II. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF OUR BEING HIS DISCIPLES IF WE REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH HIS REQUIREMENT. “He cannot be My disciple.” The solemn and authoritative manner in which this decision is pronounced ought very deeply to affect our hearts. Christ, you perceive, does not say that such a man is an inconsistent disciple, or an ungrateful disciple, or a half-hearted disciple; but He says that he is not a disciple at all; nay, says He, “he cannot be My disciple.” He may profess to be a disciple, and he may be acknowledged as a disciple by others, but he is not one: and though men and angels should declare, “Behold a disciple indeed!” Christ would reply, “I know him not!” And this decision, be it remembered, my brethren, is not mine, but Christ’s.
III. THE MEANS AND THE MOTIVES WHICH JESUS CHRIST AFFORDS TO INDUCE AND TO ENABLE US TO COMPLY WITH HIS REQUIREMENT. And here I intend to show that we ought to forsake all for Christ, because it is the most reasonable and advantageous duty that we can discharge.
1. We should forsake all that we have for Christ, because He commands us to do so.
2. We should forsake all that we have for Christ, because He hath loved us and given Himself for us.
3. We should forsake all that we have for Christ, because He has promised to enable us to do so if we ask Him.
4. We should forsake all for Christ, because He can give us infinitely more than we can relinquish for His sake. (J. Alexander.)
An Indian’s all
An Indian, on being asked how it was that he came into the kingdom of Christ so easily, at once replied, “We are commanded to forsake all. The white man have to give up his house; but I have no house. The white man have to give up his riches; but I have no riches. The white man have to give up his farm; but I have no farm. Indian have nothing to give up but his blanket, and I throw off my blanket very easily.”
Yielding all to Christ
In America a farmer felt convinced that he was not living to Christ as he ought, with that warm-hearted earnestness which characterises those who are born again. He was a large farmer, and had a great number of stacks in his yard. He went into the centre one day, and threw himself on his face, and said he would have it out with God. He prayed to Jesus Christ, and found forgiveness through His righteousness. He got up to tell his wife and children. It was Pentecost-like. Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The farmer believed it, and went home, but he had not reached the fence ere he was arrested by a voice which said there was something more. He stopped, and cried out, “O Lord, what more? is there anything more, and I will give it Thee?” He went back to the spot where he was bound to Christ, and reiterated again, “What more, O Lord; is there any more I can do?” And something told him that he had not given up the stackyard to the Lord. He burst out, “Lord, I yield; take the stack-yard--take the horses--take the farm!” He returned to his wife and children. But there was something else; he had a large balance at the bank. He had been a prosperous man, and was counting on the better time when he could hold a palatial residence for himself and family. That money was not given to the Lord; but he cried out, “Take it, Lord; I give it all up.” And instead of building a residence he built a chapel, and supported the ministers of God, and went to the camp meeting, and gave his stack-yard, farm-houses, his wife and children, into the hand of the Lord. He used the money in the bank judiciously, and it is a pleasure to him to lend waggons to his poorer neighbours, and plough their fields. (Handbook to Scripture Doctrines.)