The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-24
"The Prepared Place. !"
Selected for The es-Dispatch,)

{1EN (SeIcCCeQE IOrAlH0a SllInCS.LlSpdlCll,lt
+ II go to prepare a place for you."-st.
John Xiv:2 {
# Is tnot odd that the Master should
prepare for the servant? This upsets
all the ordinary course OF procedure.
e You are expecting. perhaps. some
chosen friends. Al your plans are made.
and you have given orders to your. ser
wants. and told them what to do, as
that all things may be IN readiness for
the invited guests. ..Thisstis customary;
this is considered srlght.syJ IA
But our Lord Jesus Christ says to His
servants. and such poor, foolish, blunder-s
Ing, servants, too II. your Lord and
Master, go to prepare a place for you."'2
1t is quite in keeping with the method,
adopted by Him during His whole min
iistry lust before He spoke this word: "
4.IIe took a towel girdeth Himself, and
began 10 wa sn His disciples feet. And
when He had completed this loWly task,
He said: IF. I,stthen, your Lord sand
Master, have washed your feet, We ought
also to wash ono mothers feet. have
given you an example. 4" 4 His whole life
was one OF humble service, and thought
for others. Why, then, should we think
1T remarkable that the servant is pre-
pared for by such a Master? It is only
remarkable. when measured by our little
standards and false relations; it is quite
i'm keeping. perfectly and purely IN har-
.nony, with: the Divine condescenrEsitonI
which always washed, ruled and glort-g
fled, the ministry of our Lord. 4
\ The next wonder Isl that the Son g q
God should ever have occa sion to pre-
pare, anything. 10 prepare means to-
get ready, to put In order. to look after
arrangements, to have all things In due
proportion, that the$eye may be pleased,
the car satisfied, and all desires met and
filled. Il. "a III
Why, the Master talks as II there was
q great deal Of work for Him to do some
where and He must make haste and get
lit done. go to prepare Can lie, who
fills infinitude and breathcs eternity
have anything to do in ordering and ar
ranging q pla eeS fors His servant? \
IIo ACCOMMODATING Himscl tcs,us and
our mode Of thinking he often steps
ont Of His tabeliihaa q Z f;of glory and talks
In our own little patois; makes a child
Of Himself that He may be understood
in. this little rickcty nursery Of this
world We arc. NIL in the cradle still;
tho mlghticst speak anongst 4us is
onlyitl lisping{ bubbcr; so, with tender
patience He backs up His words. to con-
vey to US a hint Of His unutteruble mean
Ing, III ri al
There arc some things which only the
Master can do. 4 VIII YOU so and pre-
pare summer ifoia i,isg You might try.
You have secn half a hundred summers;
now. do you go and try 10 make the
filty-first come! You. are ID skilled work.
man; you have tho organ OF form large-
/ ly developed; you have an eye for
beauty; you can buy oils and paints. md
colors, and canvas and brushes Of all
kinds; then, why do you not 80 aud
prepare summer for us IS
The great Master, looking down upon
this little wonder world Of His, this
basement story OF His great: building.
says. u am going to prepare summer fol
YOU" He makes 10 noise, no mistake,
| the face of the earth; and not man In al
| this busy, boastful world can doat
If the servant cannot prepare the sum
mer, how could he prepare heaven? II
| tho saint exllausts himself, when he
lights candle, how can he FIJI the
great heavens with the morning, thai
/ shall melt into the glowing sunset?
Observe that always the servant has
| to walt for the Master. lie can only
follow the example set before him. The
servant has no original ideas Or force. iFht
servant Is not a voice; only an; echo
muddled, indlstinct. Ks Remember that
every now and then. Would that we sdit
4 1T every day We have to stand pael
4 and let the Master lead the way,
4 You can do something, perhaps, a hun
4 bred and more little things, md SO yoi
4 actually begin to think that YOU can d.
Il anything. When you have made IN
/ little rosebud. Or ono oar OF corn. adyer
tise It. and let all the world come an
examine u!
II As q personal word FOR YOU" fo
nee, for each of us.
i OH! wondrous Thought! that after al
. our oddness and fooisMness, and sin l |
/, still desires to prepare a place" for us
I 10 keep us near to HIM, May this b
) The PRAYER ofour hearts; prepare me
!, Oh Lords for what Thou art preparin
: for me"
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ltis stated in the Boston Herald tina