October 29 - Morning"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, etc." — Matthew 6:9
This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence, with the spirit
of adoption, "Our Father." There is no acceptable prayer until we can say,
"I will arise, and go unto my Father." This child-like spirit soon perceives
the grandeur of the Father "in heaven," and ascends to devout adoration,
"Hallowed be Thy name." The child lisping, "Abba, Father," grows into
the cherub crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy." There is but a step from rapturous
worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a sure outgrowth of
filial love and reverent adoration — "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven."
Next follows the heartfelt expression of
dependence upon God — "Give us this day our daily bread." Being further
illuminated by the Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but
sinful, hence he entreats for mercy, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors:" and being pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed,
and knowing his acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy
perseverance, "Lead us not into temptation."
The man who is really
forgiven, is anxious not to offend again; the possession of justification
leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. "Forgive us our debts," that is
justification; "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," that
is sanctification in its negative and positive forms.
As the result of all this,
there follows a triumphant ascription of praise, "Thine is the kingdom, the
power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen." We rejoice that our King
reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends
of the earth, and of His dominion there shall be no end. Thus from a sense
of adoption, up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of
prayer conducts the soul. Lord, teach us thus to pray. October 29 - Evening"But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him." — Luke 24:16
The disciples ought to have known Jesus, they had heard His voice so
often, and gazed upon that marred face so frequently, that it is wonderful
they did not discover Him. Yet is it not so with you also? You have not
seen Jesus lately. You have been to His table, and you have not met Him
there. You are in a dark trouble this evening, and though He plainly says,
"It is I, be not afraid," yet you cannot discern Him. Alas! our eyes are
holden. We know His voice; we have looked into His face; we have leaned
our head upon His bosom, and yet, though Christ is very near us, we are
saying "O that I knew where I might find Him!"
We should know Jesus,
for we have the Scriptures to reflect His image, and yet how possible it is
for us to open that precious book and have no glimpse of the Wellbeloved!
Dear child of God, are you in that state? Jesus feedeth among the lilies of
the word, and you walk among those lilies, and yet you behold Him not.
He is accustomed to walk through the glades of Scripture, and to commune
with His people, as the Father did with Adam in the cool of the day, and
yet you are in the garden of Scripture, but cannot see Him, though He is
always there.
And why do we not see Him? It must be ascribed in our
case, as in the disciples', to unbelief. They evidently did not expect to see
Jesus, and therefore they did not know Him. To a great extent in spiritual
things we get what we expect of the Lord. Faith alone can bring us to see
Jesus. Make it your prayer, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes, that I may see
my Saviour present with me." It is a blessed thing to want to see Him; but
oh! it is better far to gaze upon Him. To those who seek Him He is kind;
but to those who find Him, beyond expression is He dear! October 29 |