Follow the Lamb: Steps to Spiritual Growth for All Christ-Followers [Updated and Annotated]

by Horatius Bonar, M. Keath (editor)

Your "turning" or "conversion" is only a beginning, and no more. It is not the whole journey; it is merely the first step. You are a disciple, that is, one who is under teaching; but your teaching, your discipleship, has only just begun. Your life is a book; it may be a bigger or smaller volume, but conversion is only the title page or the preface. The book itself remains to be written, and your years, weeks, and days are its chapters, pages, and lines. It is a book written for eternity; make sure that it is written well. It is a book for the inspection of enemies as well as friends; be careful of every word. It is a book written under the eye of God; let it be done reverently, not frivolously, but also without constraint or terror.

For encouragement and help on this journey, please join me in diving into what the Bible says about fruitful Christian living. Make sure you start well, continue well, and end well. The Lord has ensured that you have all the instructions you'll need, if only you take the time to learn and apply them.

List of
Ch. 1: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Ch. 2: Keep Your Conscience Clean
Ch. 3: Hold Tightly to What You Have Received
Ch. 4: Deal Honestly with Yourself
Ch. 5: Keep Company with God and with the People of God
Ch. 6: Study the Bible
Ch. 7: Watch Your Steps
Ch. 8: Put Away Vanity and the Love of Praise
Ch. 9: Watch Against Satan
Ch. 10: Beware of One-Sided Truth
Ch. 11: Do Something for God
Ch. 12: Live with Anticipation for Christ’s Return

About the Author
In 1808, Horatius Bonar was born into a family of several generations of ministers of the gospel. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh and was ordained in 1838. As a young pastor at North Parish, Kelso, he preached in villages and farmhouses, proving himself to be a comforter and guide. In 1843, he joined 450 other pastors to form the Free Church of Scotland after the “Disruption.” Horatius Bonar wrote numerous books, tracts, periodicals, and more than 600 hymns. He believed that people needed truth, not opinions; God, not theology; and Christ, not religion. From his first sermon to his last, he ended with “In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Audiobook, Christianity, Theology

83 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 1969

About the author

Horatius Bonar (19 December, 1808 – 31 May, 1889) was a Scottish churchman and poet.

The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.

He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.

Reviews

[Aron De Kraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Werkelijk één van de mooiste boekjes die ik ooit gelezen heb! Bonar is heel evenwichtig, scherp en praktisch.

[Mattie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book for new converts….”it is a great thing to be a Christian. Be His witnesses; be His mirrors; be His living epistles.
O Christian, your life is a book; it may be a volume of larger or smaller size. Conversion is but the title-page or the preface. The book itself remains to be written; and your years and weeks and days are its chapters and pages and lines. It is a book written for eternity; see that it be written well. It is a book for the inspection of enemies as well as friends; be careful of every word. It is a book written under the eye of God; let it be done reverently; without levity, yet without constraint or terror.
The grace of God is your strength, as it is your joy; and it is only by abiding in it that you can really live the life of the redeemed. Be strong, then, in this grace; draw your joy out of it; and beware how you turn to anything else for refreshment, or comfort, or holiness. Though a believing man, you are still a sinner; a sinner to the last; and, as such, nothing can suit you but the free love of God. Draw continually on Christ and His fullness for this grace.
Let the righteousness of the Righteous One be your daily covering.”
- -Horatius Bonar

[Anna Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, simple, and very helpful little book.

“Let us grow daily and hourly. Let us grow down; let us grow up. Let us sink our roots deeper; let us spread out our branches more widely. Let us not only blossom and bud, but let us bring forth fruit, ripe and plentiful, on every branch. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8).”

“I do not fill the cup of peace out of anything that is in myself. Christ has filled that cup already, long, long ago, and in love He presses it to my parched lips. Let me drink from it at once, for all the peace of God, the peace of heaven is there.”

[F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book written over a century ago that is so relevant it could have been written yesterday. Good for new Christians and mature Christians alike. Scriptural, solid, powerful.

[Miles Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good devotional about holiness from Bonar. It’s not quite as good as *God’s Way of Peace* because it’s a bit more moralistic and pietistic but it’s still worth reading.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A challenging read that calls for a relentless pursuit of holiness. Some may strain with the 18th century text but the pietist appeal is worth the effort.

The value for me is in hearing an uncompromising appeal to avoid sentimentalism and plunge into a relationship with Christ. There are strong calls for disciplined living that fall short of common legalistic pitfalls. While the work may not be a la mode for modern sensibilities it brings a devotional warmth that draws the reader towards this historical view of absolute surrender to Christ. It’s singularity portrays the depth of love that launched great revivals.

[Ksorb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book by nineteenth-century pastor and hymn writer Horatius Bonar, this was a book on how to live for Christ, aimed at new believers to prevent floundering and bumbling and having to learn much the hard way. It is based on his many years of pastoral care for new (and mature) Christians.

Most of it was soul-feeding and stirring and solid. It felt "more like solid meat than spiritual milk," but it continually drew the reader back to the basics, and instructed the reader to, at every point of stumbling or struggle, to "remember the fundamentals" (to use a sports metaphor - mine, not his.) It is good advice!

The message is well laid out in a chapter and outline format, but at the same time it wasn't at all dry; it was a powerful call to both mind and heart!

I would have given it five stars, but for the occasional finger-wagging legalism, often in footnotes, but occasionally in the primary text, re: issues, things, that he sees as playing with fire, but which many modern readers would see as "fundamentalist legalism." I wrote in the margin, "Where is it written?"

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for any new believer, as a study alongside a mentor to help sort out the troublesome bits, and to any established Christian believers who would like a refresher course in the basics of the faith, the critical Biblical truths that serve as anchors and landmarks for a walk of faith. It is filled with Scriptural references for his points. Reading it I'm reminded of the apostle Peter in his second letter to the churches in Asia, a passage I call, "The Parents' Pledge" but which applies to all of us:

"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you known them and are firemly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Chriset has mad clearto me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things."

Follow the Lamb articulates the inheritance parents and pastors long to impart and leave to their children, both natural and pastoral. It is a boon to those "whose hearts are on pilgrimage."

[Chris Hulshof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good wisdom and theological truth here. However, you will also encounter Bonar’s disdain for things like the theatre, dancing, and other forms of entertainment. At some point this book became a hunt for aphoristic theological nuggets amidst the landscape of pietism.

[Kevin Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small book with some good thoughts

I enjoy reading books by this author. He is serious and passionate in his writings. He is writing to help not to make money. Challenging.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful Advice on Every Page

There isn't a chapter this book that doesn't have helpful advice. The chapters are short but powerful. There is much to glean from this book.

[James VanHook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this but some of what he said threw up the red flags of legalism but I don't think he was a legalist.