The reality of prayerBounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Religion
The reality of prayer
Bounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Jesus Christ -- Prayers; Prayer -- Christianity
Nothing is more conspicuous in the life of our Lord than prayer. His
campaigns were arranged and His victories were gained in the struggles
and communion of His all night praying. By prayer He rent the heavens.
Moses and Elijah and the transfiguration glory wait on His praying. His
miracles and teaching had their power from the same source. Gethsemane’s
praying crimsoned Calvary with serenity and glory. His sacerdotal prayer
makes the history and hastens the triumph of His Church on earth. What
an inspiration and command to pray is the prayer life of Jesus Christ
while in this world! What a comment it is on the value, the nature and
the necessity of prayer!
The dispensation of the Person of Jesus Christ was a dispensation of
prayer. A synopsis of His teaching and practice of prayer was that “Men
ought always to pray and not to faint.”
As the Jews prayed in the name of their patriarchs and invoked the
privileges granted to them by covenant with God; as we have a new Name
and a new covenant, more privileged and more powerful and more
all-comprehensive, more authoritative and more Divine; and as far as the
Son of God is lifted above the patriarchs in divinity, glory and power,
by so much should our praying exceed theirs in range of largeness, glory
and power of results.
Jesus Christ prayed to God as Father. Simply and directly did He
approach God in the charmed and revered circle of the Father. The awful,
repelling fear was entirely absent, lost in the supreme confidence of a
child.
Jesus Christ crowns His life, His works and His teaching with prayer.
How His Father attests His relationship and puts on Him the glory of
answered prayer at His Baptism and Transfiguration when all other
glories are growing dim in the night which settles on Him! What almighty
potencies are in prayer when we are charged and surcharged with but one
inspiration and aim! “Father, glorify thy name.” This sweetens all,
brightens all, conquers all and gets all. “Father, glorify thy name.”
That guiding star will illumine the darkest night and calm the wildest
storm and will make us brave and true. An imperial principle it is. It
will make an imperial Christian.
The range and potencies of prayer, so clearly shown by Jesus in life and
teaching, but reveal the great purposes of God. They not only reveal the
Son in the reality and fullness of His humanity, but also reveal the
Father.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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