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Necessity Of Doing Our Best
195
much is lost in family worship when the one offering prayer bows
the face down and speaks in a low, feeble voice! But as soon as
family worship is over, those who could not speak loud enough to
be heard in prayer, can usually speak in clear, distinct tones, and
there is no difficulty in hearing what they say. Prayer that is thus
uttered is appropriate for the closet, but not edifying in family or
public worship; for unless those assembled can hear what is said,
they cannot say Amen. Nearly all can speak loud enough to be heard
in ordinary conversation, and why should they not speak thus when
called upon to bear testimony or to offer prayer?
When speaking of divine things, why not speak in distinct tones
in a manner that will make it manifest that you know whereof you
speak, and are not ashamed to show your colors? Why not pray as if
you had a conscience void of offense, and could come to the throne
of grace in humility, yet with holy boldness, lifting up holy hands
without wrath and doubting? Do not bow down and cover up your
faces as if there were something that you desired to conceal; but
lift up your eyes toward the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ your
Mediator stands before the Father to present your prayers, mingled
with His own merit and spotless righteousness, as fragrant incense.
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You are invited to come, to ask, to seek, to knock; and you are
assured that you will not come in vain. Jesus says, “Ask, and it shall
be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Matthew 7:7,
8
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Christ illustrates the willingness of God to bless by the willing-
ness of a father to grant the request of his child. He says, “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?
Luke 11:11-13
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We come to God in the name of Jesus by special invitation,
and He welcomes us to His audience chamber. He imparts to the
humble, contrite soul that faith in Christ by which he is justified.
Jesus blots out as a thick cloud his transgression, and the comforted