November 23, 1888
"Prayer that Prevails" The Signs of the Times 14, 45.E. J. Waggoner
There
is some very important instruction given in regard to prayer, in the
eighteenth
chapter of Luke. What stronger assurance that prayer will be
answered
can be asked for than that given in the parable of the unjust judge?
Note
the contrast that is drawn. "There was in a city a judge which
feared not
God,
neither regarded man." His own ease and self-gratification
absorbed all his
thoughts.
From sheer heartlessness he paid no attention to the poor widow's
appeal.
But she was importunate; she could not give up her claim. No doubt
her
little
property was in the hands of some extortioner, and her living
depended
upon
the judge's decision. It was a matter of life and death with her. She
presses
her
claim at unseasonable hours. At last the judge, fearful lest his
selfish ease
will
be seriously interfered with, avenges her of her adversary. He
granted her
request,
although he had no interest in it, simply to get rid of her.
Now
mark the contrast. "And shall not God avenge his own elect,
which cry
day
and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he
will
avenge
them speedily." Not for the same reason that the unjust judge
avenged
the
poor widow, but because he pities as a father, and his ear is ever
open to the prayers
of his children. The invitation is: "Come unto me all ye that
labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." "Cast thy burden upon the
Lord, and he will
sustain
thee." Let the fearful one take courage. Do not hesitate to cast
upon him
the
burden that, although too heavy for your own unaided strength, seems
too
small
to be noticed by him. Surely he who takes note of the tiny sparrow's
fall,
and
numbers the hairs of our heads, will not refuse to notice the
simplest matter
that
affects the interest of one of his children. If we fail to ask aid in
the smallest
affairs
of life, we must displease God. It is a virtual denial of his
willingness to
interest
himself in little matters. But we should consider that God is
infinitely
greater
than we, and the things that to us seem very great are very easy for
him
to
perform. We cannot grasp the infinite, therefore it is idle to
speculate upon
what
things are great and what small, in the eyes of God. better far to
take God
at
his word and "in everything
by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving," to
let
our requests be made know unto God.
But
good and evil are ever side by side. It is easy for the human heart
to be
deceived,
and to mistake self-confidence for faith. This is illustrated in the
Pharisee's
prayer. We seldom hear the Pharisee's sentiments expressed so
plainly,
but who is not in danger of harboring them? That spirit is as much to
be
guarded
against in our conversation as in our prayers. Many people do not
speak of
their own good deeds, but loudly condemn the faults of others, in
order that
their
hearers may think that they themselves are free from such failings.
Is not
this
Pharisean spirit the secret of all gossip concerning scandals? People
naturally
prone to evil deeds, love to dwell upon and magnify the faults of
others,
for
by so doing they lost sight of their own. They make out so bad a case
against
their
neighbor that their own short-comings seem small in comparison. We
all
need
to heed the injunction, "Let no man think more highly of himself
than he
ought
to think." The publican's prayer was answered, while the
Pharisee's was
not
heard, for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble." Who
wishes
to have the mighty God for his adversary? Let us all read carefully
and
heed
James 4:6-11.
There
is some very important instruction given in regard to prayer, in the
eighteenth
chapter of Luke. What stronger assurance that prayer will be
answered
can be asked for than that given in the parable of the unjust judge?
Note
the contrast that is drawn. "There was in a city a judge which
feared not
God,
neither regarded man." His own ease and self-gratification
absorbed all his
thoughts.
From sheer heartlessness he paid no attention to the poor widow's
appeal.
But she was importunate; she could not give up her claim. No doubt
her
little
property was in the hands of some extortioner, and her living
depended
upon
the judge's decision. It was a matter of life and death with her. She
presses
her
claim at unseasonable hours. At last the judge, fearful lest his
selfish ease
will
be seriously interfered with, avenges her of her adversary. He
granted her
request,
although he had no interest in it, simply to get rid of her.
Now
mark the contrast. "And shall not God avenge his own elect,
which cry
day
and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he
will
avenge
them speedily." Not for the same reason that the unjust judge
avenged
the
poor widow, but because he pities as a father, and his ear is ever
open to the prayers
of his children. The invitation is: "Come unto me all ye that
labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." "Cast thy burden upon the
Lord, and he will
sustain
thee." Let the fearful one take courage. Do not hesitate to cast
upon him
the
burden that, although too heavy for your own unaided strength, seems
too
small
to be noticed by him. Surely he who takes note of the tiny sparrow's
fall,
and
numbers the hairs of our heads, will not refuse to notice the
simplest matter
that
affects the interest of one of his children. If we fail to ask aid in
the smallest
affairs
of life, we must displease God. It is a virtual denial of his
willingness to
interest
himself in little matters. But we should consider that God is
infinitely
greater
than we, and the things that to us seem very great are very easy for
him
to
perform. We cannot grasp the infinite, therefore it is idle to
speculate upon
what
things are great and what small, in the eyes of God. better far to
take God
at
his word and "in everything
by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving," to
let
our requests be made know unto God.
But
good and evil are ever side by side. It is easy for the human heart
to be
deceived,
and to mistake self-confidence for faith. This is illustrated in the
Pharisee's
prayer. We seldom hear the Pharisee's sentiments expressed so
plainly,
but who is not in danger of harboring them? That spirit is as much to
be
guarded
against in our conversation as in our prayers. Many people do not
speak of
their own good deeds, but loudly condemn the faults of others, in
order that
their
hearers may think that they themselves are free from such failings.
Is not
this
Pharisean spirit the secret of all gossip concerning scandals? People
naturally
prone to evil deeds, love to dwell upon and magnify the faults of
others,
for
by so doing they lost sight of their own. They make out so bad a case
against
their
neighbor that their own short-comings seem small in comparison. We
all
need
to heed the injunction, "Let no man think more highly of himself
than he
ought
to think." The publican's prayer was answered, while the
Pharisee's was
not
heard, for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble." Who
wishes
to have the mighty God for his adversary? Let us all read carefully
and
heed
James 4:6-11.
