Those who live the life, who are Christians indeed, draw the world after them. In their churches they receive truest nourishment, strength to live—thinking far less of serving God on Sunday, and far more of serving their neighbors during the week. The sociable vile, the masterful rich, the deceitful trader, the ambitious poor, who are attracted by offers of a salvation other than deliverance from sin, are nowhere to be found, and all are the cleaner and stronger for their absence; while the publicans and the sinners are drawn instead, and turned into true men and women.

If any tell me my doctrine is presumptuous and contrary to what is taught in the New Testament, I will not defend my beliefs, the principles on which I try to live. I appeal to them instead, whether or not I have spoken the truth concerning our paramount obligation to do the word of Christ. If they say I have not, I have nothing more to say; there is no other ground on which we can meet. But if they allow that it is a prime, even if not the prime duty, then what I insist upon is, that they should do it, so and not otherwise recommending the knowledge of him. If your opinions are wrong, the obedience alone on which I insist will set them right; no one can know Christ to be right until he does as Christ does, as he tells us to do. For him who does not see that Christ must be obeyed, he must be left to the teaching of the Father, who brings all that hear and learn of him to Christ; He will leave no man to his own way, however much the man may prefer it.

Commentary and Illustration

by Leah Morency

Now I have come back to this introduction quote dozens of times this week...

"Those who live the life, who are Christians, indeed, draw the world after them."

What is the purpose of the light, life and love of Christ coming into our hearts first individually, if not that we would love our neighbors so truly that we would in "Deed" "draw the world after" us? A world is in the heart of our neighbors, in each of us.

MacDonald follows:
"In their churches they receive truest nourishment strength to live-thinking far less of serving God on Sunday, and far more of serving their neighbors during the week."

This nourishment to live is our fullness of the Spirit, and the power by which we love and serve in deed. MacDonald says,
 "He(Father) will leave no man to his own way however much the man may prefer it."

Because, Everything is the Lord's.

Isaiah saw and heard:
"... I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. - Isaiah 6:1
 "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"  - Isaiah 6:3.

We all of us are in his plan of redemption.
This is the greatest comfort and source of peace when we are under attack in the heat of battle or just struggling to follow Him.

"Those who live the life, who are Christians, indeed, draw the world after them."

"He(Father) will leave no man to his own way however much the man may prefer it."