THE KING’S BUSINESS
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much abuse o f this service. Martha’s was that she made too much of it, and became anxious and distracted, drawn about (so the Greek). Was it from Jesus? Her anxiety and fretfulness did not bring her nearer! She'fretted against the sister that did not go so far with her, and having done enough (so the Greek) was drawn to Jesus’ feet. (3 ) Worshiping. Work is worship but worship is the better work. Yet we have more preachers, givers, serv ers, than worshipers. Jesus wants our hearts more than our hands. It is not an accident that we speak o f “the prayer serv ice.” The closet is a workshop. Worship and workshop are closer related than in spelling and sound. All other work is sec ond to worship. Mary’s attitude at the feet o f Jesus was that of a heeder of His word, and the word is the inspirer and instructor of the worker. Ours is a Martha age. Serving Jesus falls short of His de light and glory in proportion as we neg lect communion with Him. A student's idea, he said, “of a university (a place where they fit for life’s labors) was a log with himself at one end and Mark Hopkins (great teacher) at the other. LESSON V.—February 1 .— T he U nfriendly N eighbor : A P arable on P rayer .— Luke 11:1-13. G olden T ext : Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. —Luke 11:9. I. O ur L ord P rayed . 1. The Wonder of It. How it looked to the angels, “ It was not only grace w.e saw . . . nor “ forgive,” fit Him. There is a distinc tion between “My Father” and “your” or “our” Father. Christ’s relation is infinitely different from ours because of His place in the Godhead.
Nor faith alone, but faith, emptying itself, Itself to strengthen In Another’s might; Self-limited Omnipotence, that deigned, Weak even as man is weak, to lean, on God. Messiah praying:—brother, I have watched His lips moving, until my very soul Clave to Him with intensity of love; And heard Him plead for those He came to save. Until of all hard tasks the hardest seemed Not to go trumpet-tongued, and summon all To fall and worship at His sacred feet.” 2. The Example and Assurance o f It. Let all doubts as to the duty and efficacy o f prayer be forever set aside. Enough,— Jesus prayed; no argument can stand a mo ment against that. Pray, “ Lord, teach us to pray” (Rom; 8:26), “ For what are men better than sheep or goats That nourish a blind life within the brain, If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friends? For so the whole round world is every way Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.” II. T he L ord ’ s P rayer . 1. The Lord’s not because He prayed it, but taught it. Neither “ Our Father,”
2. A Christian Prayer, not “Jewish” as some. Every item accords with apostolic teaching and Christian experience. It is not a prayer for natural but regenerate men. Brotherhood is in the first word, sonship in the second. All men pray in the sense of begging of the unseen Power. Man is called “the praying animal.” And such he is for the prayers of natural men are animal prayers. They do not say “ our” or “ Father,” save as an echo of “ Our Father.” There is no communion in their prayers either as sons or brethren. Only by the new birth (John 3:16) can we say, “Abba Father” (Rom. 8:15-17). “ Father,” “ our,” “us,” “we,” breathe the true spirit of praye;. We cannot say “our” and not share “our bread;” nor pray “ forigve us,” if we do not forgive “us,” nor “bring us not into temptation,” if we tempt our breth ren. This prayer then is a social prayer and belongs to Christian assemblies. It is a form of prayer fitted to be used in unison; and a mold for all prayer. 3. Its Divisions. Like the Ten Com mandments it has two tables (1) Godward, verse 2; (2 ) manward, verses 3, 4. It con-
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