LEADING AND FOLLOWING

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 10, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 10.

LEADING AND FOLLOWING.

A GOOD follower is a good leader—for his followers. To every Christian there comes the injunction of Paul, "Be thou an example;" and so far a Christian’s chief duty is to be a good leader. But then there comes to him also the message of Christ, "For I have given you an example;" and so far a Christian’s chief duty is to be a follower. Hence a Christian’s duty of being an example is performed in his showing that he has an example. He who has Christ in mind as his example is by that very fact himself already an example. He whose first solicitude is to be an example to others, is likely to forget his own better Example. But he whose first desire is to follow Christ as his example, is more likely to lead others to Christ by his example. He sets the best example who best exemplifies his own higher Example.—Selected.