The Way of the Master

Taking the First Step

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

As the soldier follows his general, as the servant follows his master, as the scholar follows his teacher, as the sheep follows its shepherd, just so ought the professing Christian to follow Christ.

John Charles Ryle (Bishop of Liverpool)

Mark 9:35 ESV

35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Christ-likeness is not measured by superiority but service. Genuine, Godly greatness flows from a heart of gratitude.

Taking the Second Step

Philippians 2:5–9 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

In order to walk with Christ effectively, we must also walk with Him. Oftentimes, we don’t need faith as much as faithfulness.

Luke 23:42 ESV

42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

To live with Him we must also be willing to die. Die to personal presumption, position and preference.

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Remember, your best life comes from giving yours best.

Our best life is not “now” but “not yet.”

1 John 1:6–7 ESV

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:6 ESV

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Next Steps

1 Peter 2:18–21 (ESV)

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

We are instructed to be subordinate to our masters.

We can only serve the Father as we serve humanity and seek to walk in His steps (see Luke 6:38).

Matthew 7:12 ESV

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The “Golden Rule” is the key to Christian living and giving. Walking with the Master is not a way but the Way of daily life.