Thou didst pay the Temple tax, though the Son by nature, exempt from the tribute due from Thy Father’s servants. Thou didst put a coin in the mouth of the fish which Peter caught, to pay both for him, and for Thee (Matt 17:24–27). Teach me how to pray for all that are in authority.
Thou didst go about doing good, healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Thee (Acts 10:36). Thou, the chosen, beloved Servant of Jehovah, Thou didst not strive nor cry, neither did any man hear Thy voice in the streets (Matt 12:15–21). Let me not ask “Who is my neighbor?” Let me ask “To whom can I be neighbor?” (Luke 10:25–27). Teach me how to pray that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.
From a Child didst Thou grow, waxing strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Thee; Thou didst increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man; of Thy fullness have all received, and grace for grace (Luke 2:40, 52; John 1:16). Teach me how to pray that we may lead . . . life in all godliness and honesty.
Lord Jesus Christ, of the seed of David raised from the dead (2 Tim.2:8), who hast now all authority in heaven and earth (Matt 28:18), so overrule the conditions of our land, our nation, our society that Thy people may flourish and adorn the Gospel by leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
20. Come, Holy Ghost, the Comforter
II.
6 Spirit of witness, in our hearts
Shed forth the love of God,
Which gave His Son to die for us
And shed His precious Blood!
7 O Spirit of adoption, sent
Into our hearts to cry
To God, “Our Father!” now begin
In us to testify.
8 Spirit of promise, Earnest blest,
Thou hast believers sealed
Unto redemption’s glorious day
When Christ shall be revealed.
9 O Holy Spirit of God, let not
Our sins Thy presence grieve:
The living temple of our hearts
Forsake not—never leave!
10 Our souls and bodies now possess,
Our minds and hearts renew:
Within us Thy good pleasure work
To think, to will, to do.
C.M.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Genesis 31; New Testament: Matthew 20 Psalm: 20
1 Timothy 2:3–4
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
O God, Thou art our Savior! “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song: He also is become my salvation” (Isa 12:2; 2 Sam 22:2–4). “God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; whereunto He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13–14). “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 24–25).
All that advances Thy good pleasure and purpose as God our Savior is good and acceptable in Thy sight. “So He was their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed tem, and carried them all the days of old” (Isa 63:8–9). “I, even I am the Lord, and beside Me there is no Saviour” (Isa 43:11). “There is no God else beside Me; a just God, and a Saviour; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else!” (Isa 45:21–22). “All flesh shall know that I the Lord am Thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (Isa 49:26). “Who is this . . .? I that speak in righteousness, Mighty to save” (Isa 63:1).
Paul who is “an apostle by the commandment of God our Saviour” (1:1), will surely enforce what is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. What is that? Prayer—“first of all . . . prayers” (2:1). Prayer for all men puts us in the will of God our Savior, seeks His glory and reflects His likeness who will have all men to be saved and to come into the knowledge of the truth. Such prayer He finds good and acceptable: He will heed, honor, hear and answer it. This too is “the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man” which “availeth much” (Jas. 5:16).
God our Savior . . . will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth: the election of His grace embraces every class, color, condition and clime of humanity—no sort of sinner is excepted. “A great multitude, whom no man could number” shall cry “Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb” “Thou art worthy . . . for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9–10; 7:9–17). So let me lay out my fullest powers of desire and expression to “magnify the Lord” and “rejoice in God my Saviour” in the service of “prayer . . . for all men”, even the worst (1 Cor 6:9–11) body and soul, everywhere, always.
21. Come, Holy Ghost, the Comforter
III.
11 Spirit of truth, into all truth
Now written in Thy Word
Lead all the saints, by love to grow
In likeness to their Lord.
12 Come, Unction from the Holy One,
Anoint us all to learn
The faith delivered to the saints,
All error to discern.
13 No eye hath seen, no ear hath heard
Nor into any heart
Hath entered all the depths which God
The Spirit shall impart.
14 Yet built upon our holy faith,
We in the Spirit pray
To keep ourselves in God’s own love
Till our Lord Jesu’s Day.
15 Then shall the Spirit of Christ from death
To life immortal raise
The saints made perfect like the Son
To God’s eternal praise.
Doxology
16 O Father, by thy Spirit lead
Our souls to Christ Thy Son,
And in Him grant us access free—
Praise God the Three in One!
C.M.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Genesis 32; New Testament: Matthew 21 Psalm: 21
1 Timothy 2:5–6
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
There is one God: to none other is my soul’s devotion, my body’s obedience, my heart’s affection, my mind’s delight, my will’s submission due. I must love Him therefore with all. None, nothing less, else is worthy (Deut 6:4–5; Rev. 4:11). There is one God: hence it is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour” that “all men . . . be