Such a one says: 'I am tired of the
wrongful course. I want to follow the right course, to know God, and to
do his will.'
[328]Now being drawn to Jesus, he learns through the Word that he must
do something. To him Jesus says: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me'. (John 14:6) What can one who
is now repentant and changing his course, but still a sinner, do to come
into harmony with God? He is informed that it will cost him much. So
Jesus says to him: 'Sit down and count the cost'. (Luke 14:28) He learns
it will cost him all he has, namely, the surrender of himself to the
Lord. The next step for one, then, to become a Christian is to make a
consecration; that is to say, to commit himself to the Lord and his
arrangements. And this he may do by saying in substance: 'Blessed Lord,
I commit myself to thy arrangements; here I am. Do unto me according to
thy holy will. I desire to do thy will.'
[329]Neither the Lord Jesus nor the heavenly Father coerces any one,
but we must come to the Lord voluntarily, seeking his aid. This is
clearly indicated as necessary to become the follower of Jesus by the
words the Master used: 'If you will be my disciple, you must deny
yourself, then take up your cross, and follow me'. (Matthew 16:24)
Self-denial means an agreement to abandon one's selfish course and to
agree to do the will of the Lord.
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