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Christ’s Object Lessons
In the parable the petitioner was again and again repulsed, but he
did not relinquish his purpose. So our prayers do not always seem to
receive an immediate answer; but Christ teaches that we should not
cease to pray. Prayer is not to work any change in God; it is to bring
us into harmony with God. When we make request of Him, He may
see that it is necessary for us to search our hearts and repent of sin.
Therefore He takes us through test and trial, He brings us through
humiliation, that we may see what hinders the working of His Holy
Spirit through us.
There are conditions to the fulfillment of God’s promises, and
prayer can never take the place of duty. “If ye love Me,” Christ says,
“Keep My commandments.” “He that hath My commandments, and
keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be
loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself
to him.”
John 14:15, 21
. Those who bring their petitions to God,
claiming His promise while they do not comply with the conditions,
insult Jehovah. They bring the name of Christ as their authority for
the fulfillment of the promise, but they do not those things that would
show faith in Christ and love for Him.
Many are forfeiting the condition of acceptance with the Father.
We need to examine closely the deed of trust wherewith we approach
God. If we are disobedient, we bring to the Lord a note to be cashed
when we have not fulfilled the conditions that would make it payable
to us. We present to God His promises, and ask Him to fulfill them,
when by so doing He would dishonor His own name.
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The promise is “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
John 15:7
.
And John declares: “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we
keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not
His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso
keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.”
1 John
2:3-5
.
One of Christ’s last commands to His disciples was “Love one
another as I have loved you.”
John 13:34
. Do we obey this command,
or are we indulging sharp, unchristlike traits of character? If we have
in any way grieved or wounded others, it is our duty to confess our
fault and seek for reconciliation. This is an essential preparation that
we may come before God in faith, to ask His blessing.