in the sight of the Lord and they have power with God. We also read of a sinner’s tears. In Luke 7:38 a sinful woman kneels at Jesus’ feet. She washed them with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Perhaps she had been standing in some dark doorway on a street of Capernaum when Jesus’ kind words were heard, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11: 28). All the men this woman had ever met came to rob her. They had added to her troubles and increased 'her sor rows. Here was a man who would give rest to her troubled heart. The alabas- THE SINGLE EYE Oh, give me, Lord, the single eye, Which aims are nought but Thee: I fain would live, and yet not I— But Jesus lives in me. Like Noah's dove, no rest I find But in Thy ark of peace; The cross, the balance of my mind; Thy wounds, my hiding-place. In vain the tempter spreads the snare, If Thou my keeper art; — Get thee behind me, God is near, M y Saviour takes my part! On Him my spirit I recline, Who put my nature on; His light shall in my darkness shine, And guide me to His throne. — Autustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778) ter box, the oriental girl’s hope chest, was crushed. Christ saw tears reveal ing her true repentance. He said in kindness, “Thy sins are forgiven thee, go in peace.” Have you been to the Saviour’s feet with your tears? Kneel there today, a subject for His mercy. He will never turn you away. There were also the tears of a king found in H Kings 20:5. We are re minded that even royalty can be wretched. Even the prominent have tears, for sorrow is universal. The tears of Hezekiah touched the heart of God. He was given 15 additional years of life. Praying with tears is usually ef
Tears (continued) His blood gives testimony to His great desire to cleanse us from every sin and stain. In the Garden, the Lord prayed with strong crying and tears. He was about to take our place and to die in our stead. Have you ever loved Him for that? Have you ever thanked Him for it? A queen’s tears are mentioned in Esther 8:3. This lovely Jewish queen presented her petition to the king for the preservation of her people. Her prayer was effective; the king was moved; the petition was granted. The request was made at the risk of her own life. Her tears revealed her ear nestness and devotion. The Scripture reminds us, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing pre cious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.” Here we have the fanner’s tears. Salt Water seems to make the seed grow. But why should a sower be weeping? What is there about the seed or the soil that brings tears to the eyes? This passage, of course, refers to sowing the Gospel. Tears come because of the tragedy of life where there is no Christ. When God’s long-suffering ends, the sinner’s own suffering begins. There is danger ahead for the one who has not yet received the good seed of the Gospel into his heart. Tears show we believe God’s Word; the tears show that we care for the souls of lost men. We don’t see as many tears for this reason as we should. A father’s tears are mentioned touch ingly in Mark 9:24. Here is a scene of sorrow, reinacted over and over again in many homes today. Here is a wicked boy with a praying father. The father’s heart was yearning over his son; he could not be comforted. How cruel the devil is. He wrecks the life and then he laughs at the wreck. He ruins the soul and then he rejoices over the ruin. He breaks the heart and then he pours liquid fire into the wound. There is no grace in the devil’s pro gram. The father’s prayer, amid his tears, was, “Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.” Such tears are precious
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