The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-13


But prayer pre-
suppOses q spirit Of meekness. If
meekness be absent we win pray in
vain, for it is unto the meek he shows
his way. Moses was called the meek
est man, hence it is said, "He made
known his ways unto Noses" If we
would know his way we will In meek
ness pray, "Teach me thy way, 0
Lord"
Our proneness to wander is another
reason for using this prayer daily. We
are naturally inclined to choose our
own way because it seems right, for
getting "there is way which seemeth
right unto man, but the end thereof
Is the way of DEATH" There may not
be much difference between our way
and his at first, but however slight at
the beginning the end will be the diff
ference between life and death. Like
clock losing a second or two each
day, so the error of our own way may
be hardly noticeable at the start. 1t
must daily be corrected. The daily
prayer for instruction will guard the
believer from his ignorance and prone
ness to wander.
II. The Need of Personal instruction.
1t is said God makes no two things
exactly alike. So each Christian has
his or her own peculiarities. Each
one has peculiar problems and difficult
ties which confront no one else. Many
things are common to all believers,
but each has some things which are
peculiar. It is this popularity of prob
lem or difficulty which causes the need
of personal instruction. Only the Lord
knows all the circumstances and only
the Lord knows all the way. Others
may know much; they cannot know
all. Hence the advice of others. how
ever well intended, and however wise
the giver, can never take the place OF
the advice the Lord gives. And the
instruction of others, however good
and cody the giyer, can never take
the place of the instruction of the
Lord. The church of God is made up
of units and each unit has Its own Pc
culiar part to perform. Without the
personal instruction OF the Lord some
Christian may be found doing anoth-
er's work while his own lies neglected.
AS the body is one and yet has many
| members and each member its own Of
| flee, so is the Church. Two questions
must be asked by each Christian
"Am l in the Lords way?" and "Am /
in the Lords way for me?"
Ill. The Need of Divine Personal In
struction.
This need arises because Of the
Christians threefold enemy ever Turk
ing beside the path and ever ready
to lure astray. The world will present
many alternatives for the Lords way
and bring them to the believers at
tention so craftily that unless forti-
fed by this daily prayer the feet Will
unconsciously stray away from the
right path even where the desire not
to stray may be found. Only the Lord
can discern all the twists and turns OF
the world. 1t is not merely the evil
world but that religious seemingly
| cody world which holds the danger
for the Christian. 1t will be satisfied
If 1t can induce the believer to do good
If the good is done in a wrong way.
Because thing is good 1t does not
necessarily follow that 1t is good for
each Christian to do. Only the Lord
knows what is good for each one, and
he must be looked to for the needed
instruction. The flesh also is ever on
the alert to lead astray. The Lord
alone can divide between the soul and
spirit or between what the Christian
is by nature and grace. Hence the
Lord alone can be relied upon for in
struction. And lastly, the Devil as
sumes the appearance of an angel OF
light, and he can SO work ON the con-
science as to make one think that one
should do evil. Paul says, II verify
thought ought to do" certain things,
but later he confesses he was at that
time "a blasphemer and injurious. -
Tim. 1:13. The Lord alone can see
and guard against the Devils wiles
and devices, hence the Lord alone can
give proper instruction.
In view of our natural ignorance
and proncness to wander, in view Of
our peculiar problems and difficulties,
and In view of the world, the flesh and
the Devil, our safety lies in this daily
prayer, "Teach me thy way, o Lord"
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The Simple Truth. IL