Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-18


Christ is pleased when we pray. He is
continually saying: ASK and it shall be
given" He considered prayer SO i'm
lportant that He gave His disciples a
| form to show them after what manner
they should pray.
/ He gave also explicit instructions as
to how not to pray:
when thou prayest thou shalt not be
as the hypocrites are, for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and in
4 the corners Of the streets, that they may
] be seen of men. Verify. / say unto you
they have their reward But thou, when
/ thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to
thy Father which is in secret. and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward
thee openly. But when ye pray use not
vain repetitions, as the heather do; for
they think they shall be heard for their
much speaking"
From all He taught us about what
prayer is and what 1t is not. we have
| learned, as beautifully expressed in the
| hymn. that
Prayer is the souls sincere desire.
| Uttered or unexpressed,
| The motion of hidden fire
| That trembles in the breast.
| Prayer is the burden of sigh,
| The falling OF tear,
| The upward glancing Of an eye
| When none but God is near.
|
Prayer Is the Christians vital breath,
The Christians native air,
His watchw0rd at the gate OF death;
He enters heaven with prayer.
Prayer does not consist i'll the beauty of
| the words in which the petitions are ex-
pressed-"the simplest form Of speech
that infant lips can try" may be more po-
tent than the highest sounding words of
mems eloquence. The uplifting of the
heart in communion and fellowship and
asking for things agreeable to Gods holy
When you so pray you will please
Christ.
Deeds of Mercy.
In Isaiah we read that "a man shall be
as an hiding place from the winds, and a
covert from the tempest; as rivers of
water in dry place. as the shadow of a
great rock in weary land"
Aside from the prophetical interpreta-
ton of these words, they teach that any
one. even the humblest and weakest. may
prove a shelter to others.
It is not only the good king or good
magistrate that is a protection to the poor
and defenseless, but every man may in
some degree shelter his fellow-man from
the winds of adversely and the storms of
sorrow and disaster. Herein lies the
broad field of Christian endeavor To
perform deeds of kindness and helpfulness
is within the reach of all. Christ has set
US the great example. and will it not
please Him for us to follow in His foot
steps as He went about everywhere min
istering to the sick, the sorrowing and
suffering?
II to the hungry, we give meat; to the
thirsty. drink; to the stranger, shelter; to
the naked. rafment; to the sick or those in
prison, attention and care, we will please
Christ.
We are told that unto all who do these
things the King in the last great day will
say. Come We blessed of my Father,
Inherit. the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of. the world"
The reason that our loving ministry to
others Is SO pleasing to Christ is because
of His oneness with u.s. for He declares
that "tnasmuch as We have done it unto
one OF the least OF these, my brethren.
We have done 1t unto me-"
r X
Fruit; Bearing.
Our relations to Christ are very init
mate in matter of making our lives fruit
full He says: II am the vine, We are
the branches; he that abideth in me, and
I in him. the same bringeth forth much
fruit; for without me We can do nothing"
And again He says: Herein is my Faith
er glorified. that We bear much fruit; so
shall We be my disciples"
The fruits we are to bear are clearly
defined and set forth in the Scriptures.
Gal. t:22. q. 1.-THE fruit of the Spirit is
love, JOY. peace. long suffering. gentle
ness. goodness, faith. meekness, temper
ance'
Love" both to God and neighbors.
SOY" through our fellowship and COM
munion with Him. Peace" in the quie-
tude of conscience toward Him, and a
peaceable disposition toward men. Long
suffering in the patient bearing and for
giving of injuries and wrongs. Gentle
ness" In our affableness and kindness un-
der provocations. Goodness" in our
friendliness and readiness to do good to
others. Faith" or faithfulness in
speaking the truth and in keeping all our
engagements. ''Meekness," in our avoid
ance of passion and anger. Temper
ance," in our curbing unholy desires and