I am a new Christian. What is the next step?

Be warned at the outset against the idea that in being converted you have reached the summit of all ambition, the goal of the Christian race. The truth is that far from conversion being the goal, it is the starting-post. The race is just beginning, so that it is emphatically not the time for you to take things easy, but rather for you to prepare for action. It would be well if every convert imitated Saul of Tarsus (afterwards the Apostle Paul) in the questions he asked upon conversion (Acts 9:5-6). The first was, "Who art thou, Lord?" The second, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

You stand, if just converted, upon the threshold of an absolutely new epoch in your existence. Doubtless things seem to you new, and the path you now commence to tread a little mysterious. I want to be allowed, somewhat after the fashion of "Interpreter" with "Christian" in "The Pilgrim's Progress," to point out one or two things which may, with God's blessing, help you at the start of your Christian career.

If it be so with you, this is true repentance toward God, and true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The merit, the grace, the efficacy, the power are in Him. The pardon and peace, the life and blessing, are yours on believing the glad tidings of God about His Son. Till you believe on Him for life and salvation, you have nothing to do with practical love and holiness, incumbent as they are on the Christian. First be settled in faith.

Finally, a knowledge and an understanding of God’s word is needed, and, more importantly, an obedience to it (Jas.1:22). Even as Christ Himself learned obedience (Heb.5:8), thereby glorifying God, even so it should be with us. We must study and obey His word that we may know Him better and so are made “complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim.3:17), better able to represent Christ in this world. By following the lessons to be learnt from these four historical events connected with the drink offering we can bring joy to the heart of God.

Prayer is not the only sign of inward life, by any means, but it is very important and one of thy earliest. Reading the scriptures is also important and indicates the desire to learn the truth of God revealed there. It is, of course, possible to read the Bible as a mere matter of form, or as a book of ordinary human composition. This is to be only a rotten stick without life, but to read the scriptures because they are the word of God is the living blade which will produce the ear, and also the full corn in the ear.

Now, I hope my young friends will remember that as the green blade requires light from the sun, and rain from heaven in order to produce the ear and the full corn in the ear, so in the Christian life both prayer and the word of God are indispensable for growth and fruitfulness. In prayer you will be consciously in the light of God, Who is light (1 John 1:5). In reading the scripture, God will speak to you out of it concerning His Son, and that will be like showers of refreshing rain upon your heart. By this means, you will "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

How could prayer to One who is so interested in us be in vain? The knowledge of His care of us in the smallest things should encourage us in every thing to pray and with our prayers to give thanks. The better we know Him the more will we pray, and the more we pray the more will we turn to His Word. Hearing His word and speaking to Him in prayer, with the obedience that comes from hearkening and the supplies of grace and mercy that come through prayer make up our practical Christian life.

Dependence and obedience the two characteristics of a Christian. Prayer and the Word the two expressions of them. Prayer, dependence, and obedience TO the word.

1884 56 Disciple is learner, follower: the Lord Jesus is both Saviour and Master, Lord and Master of all men, of those whom He bought with His blood. Only believers are true disciples. To be a disciple of Christ while He was here below involved the loss of all that men value (Luke 14:26 etc.). Not by being deprived of all as by force, for then the affections might still be engrossed with them; but a deliberate and willing separation from all that would interfere with following Him. Faith is the first step in the path, the only true beginning. A false start, that is, a pretended following, when all else is not forsaken, frequently if not invariably leads to greater hardness of heart, and to infidelity. The sure natural result is hatred of the truth. The Lord warns the multitude of what is needed to be a true disciple, "if any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Had they ears to hear? Anyone attempting to be a disciple in his own strength, by the working of his own will, would be like a man beginning to build a tower without counting the cost, or like a king going to war with ten thousand against another king with, twenty thousand. The cost of being a disciple is beyond the resources of man.

Now it would be well that all of us should understand clearly as to new birth. This is the necessary start, and it is very blessed not to have a doubt as to one’s having really been born of the water and the Holy Ghost. But let us not be satisfied with just being born, for it is only the start. Shall I say just “ankle” deep? The ankles suggest walking, and we cannot begin the Christian walk until born again. Many seem to be satisfied with just being converted, and do not make much further progress. Now again let me press that this is merely the start, though a very blessed one.