Christ’s Example in Prayer

Prayer is communion with God. It is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Prayer went before and sanctified every act of His ministry. It was by prayer that He was braced for duty and for trial. He is a brother in our infirmities, and was «in all points tempted like as we are;» but as the Sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege.

To the believing Jews in Jerusalem in the time of Christ, Olivet was a frequent resort for devotion. The hills and valleys about Jerusalem, now so bleak and bare, were then studded with olive-groves and orchards, and here the faithful in Israel would often go to search the Scriptures and to pray. The Garden of Gethsemane was among the places thus frequented. It was to this place, when the city of Jerusalem was hushed in the silence of midnight, that Jesus often repaired for communion with His Father. When those to whom He had ministered all the day went every man to his house, Jesus, we read, «went unto the Mount of Olives.» He would sometimes take His disciples with Him to this place of retirement, that they might join their prayers with His. In prayer Christ had power with God, and prevailed. Morning by morning, and evening by evening, He received grace that He might impart to others. Then, His soul replenished with grace and fervor, He would set forth to minister to the souls of men.

We should not think that Christ’s need of prayer in His human life lessens His dignity as our Redeemer. He came to be our Example in all things. He identified Himself with our weakness that we might identify ourselves with His strength. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet He did not yield in a single instance to the sins that were proving the ruin of the sons of men. Thru prayer and communion with God, we, like Him, are to come forth refreshed and strengthened for the battles of life.

In the Saviour’s last recorded prayer for His disciples, we are given an inspiring view of the divine and human that combined in the nature of Christ. Behold the kneeling form in the shadow of Olivet! As a humble suppliant the Saviour pleads for strength for Himself and for His disciples in the coming struggle. With strong crying and tears He pleads in behalf of those whom He has called out from the world to give the message of salvation to men. «I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them,» He pleads. «I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them thru Thy truth: Thy word is truth.» «Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me thru their word.»

«O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee; but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.»

The Son of God, now at the Father’s right hand, still pleads as man’s intercessor. He still retains His human nature, is still the Saviour of mankind. We need to appreciate more than we do the precious privilege we have of presenting our petitions to Him as He presented His prayers to the Father. «I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. . . . If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?»

It is only at the altar of God that we kindle the taper with holy fire. It is only the divine light that will reveal the littleness, the incompetence, of human ability, and give clear, distinct views of the perfection and purity of Jesus Christ. It is only as we behold Jesus that we desire to become like Him. Only as we view His righteousness do we hunger and thirst to possess it. Only as we ask in earnest prayer and with the humility and simplicity of a little child, can God grant us our heart’s desire. Such prayer is heard and answered. The Lord is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to those who earnestly desire it than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children. Christ has promised the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and righteousness and holiness. The Spirit of God is not given by measure to those who earnestly seek for it, who by faith stand upon the promises of God. They plead the pledged word of God, saying, «Thou hast said it. I will take Thee at Thy word.»

The Comforter is given that He may take of the things of Christ and show them unto us, that He may present in their rich assurance the words that fell from His lips, and convey them with living power to the soul who is obedient, who is emptied of self. It is then that the soul receives the image and superscription of the Divine. Then Christ is formed within, the hope of glory.

«God Is Our Refuge»

In his long life, David found on earth no resting-place. In his manhood a hunted fugitive, finding refuge in the rocks and caves of the wilderness, he wrote: «O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. . . . Thou hast been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.» «Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; For I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, And my God.» «God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, And tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.»

In the ninety-first psalm is a most wonderful description of the coming of the Lord to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end, in which He gives to those who have chosen Him as their Redeemer the assurance of His love and protecting care:

«He that dwelleth in the secret place of the

Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the

Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and

my fortress: My God; in Him will I trust.

Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare

of the fowler, and from the noisome

pestilence.

He shall cover thee with His feathers,

And under His wings shalt thou trust:

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

«Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by

night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in

darkness;

Nor for the destruction that wasteth at

noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side,

And ten thousand at thy right hand;

But it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold

And see the reward of the wicked.

«Because thou hast made the Lord, which is

my refuge,

Even the Most High, thy habitation:

There shall no evil befall thee,

Neither shall any plague come nigh thy

dwelling.

For He shall give His angels charge over

thee,

To keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands,

Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:

The young lion and the dragon shalt thou

trample under foot.

Because He hath set His love upon Me, therefore

will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he hath

known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer

him: I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him, and honor him.»

The time has come when the righteous should understand that the judgments of God are to fall upon all those who transgress His law, but that those who walk humbly before Him will triumph with holy gladness, realizing constantly that they are under the assuring protection of His everlasting covenant of love. As Jehovah is holy, He requires His people to be holy, pure, undefiled; for «without holiness no man shall see the Lord.» Those who worship Him in sincerity and truth will be accepted by Him. So long as God’s people, in this time of peril, are sincere and upright, pure and undefiled, and trust alone in the One who is all-wise, all-merciful, and full of compassion, they walk in safe paths, and will not be turned aside. God is their defense, their front-guard and rear-ward.

Slighting God’s Mercies.

At any moment God could withdraw from the impenitent the tokens of His wonderful mercy and love. O, that human agencies would consider what will be the sure result of their ingratitude to Him, their disregard of the infinite Gift of Christ to the world! Loving transgression more than obedience, the blessings of God, which they enjoy but do not appreciate, will become the occasion of their eternal ruin. Choosing to engage in worldly amusements and sinful pleasures rather than to check themselves in a course of sin and live for the honor of God, they learn too late what it means to be without God, without hope. Then they learn what they have lost by choosing to stand in rebellion to His commandments. In the past they have defied His power, rejected His overtures of mercy. When His judgments fall upon them they realize that they have lost happiness, life—eternal life in the heavenly courts. Surely they will say, «Our life was full of madness against God, and now we are lost.»

In the time when God’s judgments are falling without mercy, O, how enviable to the wicked will be the position of those who abide «in the secret place of the Most High,»—the pavilion in which the Lord hides all who have loved Him and obeyed His commandments. But when probation has ended, the door of mercy is closed to the wicked. No more prayers in their behalf are answered.

There Is Yet Time.

But this time has not yet come. Mercy’s sweet voice is still heard. The Lord is still calling sinners to come to Him. As the light of truth reaches their hearts, will they repent and be converted? Will they, in humility, in meekness and lowliness of heart, come to the foot of the cross to learn of Jesus? Will they say to Him, «I will wash mine hands in innocency; so will I compass Thine altar, O Lord: that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works»?

The righteous understand God’s government, and will triumph with holy gladness in the everlasting protection and salvation that Christ thru His merits has secured for them. Great joy will come to them in that day when every man shall receive according to his works; and songs of joy will burst from their lips as they recall all that God has done for His people.

Until that day of final triumph comes, it is the privilege of every trusting believer to join in the song:

«The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom

shall I be afraid?

When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my

flesh,

Even mine adversaries and my foes, they

stumbled and fell.

Tho an host should encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear:

Tho war should rise against me,

Even then will I be confident.

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that

will I seek after;

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to

inquire in His temple;

For in the day of trouble He shall keep me

secretly in His pavilion:

In the covert of His tabernacle shall He hide

me;

He shall lift me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above

mine enemies round about me;

And I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices

of joy;

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the

Lord.» —