May 9,
2003
WHEN
YOU PRAY
"He
said to them, 'When you pray, say: Our Father' " (Luke
11:2, NKJV).
"Jesus
teaches us to call His Father our Father (see also
John 20:17). He is not ashamed to call us [brothers] (Hebrews
2:11; Matthew 28:10). So ready, so eager, is the Saviour's
heart to welcome us as members of the family of God, that
in the very first words we are to use in approaching God He
places the assurance of our divine relationship, 'Our
Father.'
"Here
is the announcement of that wonderful truth, so full of encouragement
and comfort, that God loves us as He loves His Son. This is
what Jesus said in His last prayer for His disciples,
'that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved
them as You have loved Me' (John 17:23).
"How
can we ever be in doubt and uncertainty, and feel that we
are orphans? It was in behalf of those who had transgressed
the law that Jesus took upon Him human nature; He became like
unto us, that we might have everlasting peace and assurance.
We have an Advocate in the heavens, and whoever accepts Him
as a personal Saviour is not left an orphan to bear the burden
of his own sins.
"Beloved,
now we are the children of God." "And if children,
then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed
we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
"It has not yet been revealed what we shall be: but we
know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him; for we
shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:17).
"The
very first step in approaching God is to know and believe
the love that He has for us (1 John 4:16); for it is through
the drawing of His love that we are led to come to Him...
"If
you call God your Father you acknowledge yourselves His children,
to be guided by His wisdom and to be obedient in all things,
knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan
for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honor,
His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your
highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honor
your relation to your Father and to every member of His family.
You will rejoice to do any act, however humble, that will
tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred."--Thoughts
From The Mount Of Blessing, pp., 103-106.
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