| The Golden Gate of Prayer |
Chapter 2 |
Page 5 |
When the emperor of Rome was in the field with his army, it was forbidden that any one should approach his tent at night. The penalty was instant death. One night a soldier was seen approaching the tent of the emperor, bearing a paper in his hand. He was promptly arrested and sentenced to die. The emperor, however within his tent, heard the commotion outside, and asked what it was about. He was told the cause, and gave the decree that if the petition with which the soldier had been approaching the emperor was for himself, he must die, but that if it was for others his life should be spared. It was learned that the petition was not for himself, but for three fellow-soldiers who had been found sleeping at their posts. He was coming to the emperor with the plea that their lives might be spared. So the emperor gave command that because of the nature of the petition the soldier should live, and also that his plea should be granted.
In a dim way, at least, this imperial command illustrates the law of prayer. When with our requests for ourself we bring also pleadings for God’s other children, our prayers are heard. But when in our approaches to our Father we ask only for what we want for ourself, we find no acceptance. How the spirit of this prayer brings our heart under discipline to the law of Christian love! We can carry in before God no envyings, no jealousies, no resentments, no grudges, no contempt for any one. We must see in every man a brother and be interested in every one enough to pray for blessing upon him.
Thus it is not easy to say even the first word of this form of prayer. It searches our heart, and not only brings us low before God in reverent adoration, but cleanses us of all unlovingness and all uncharity. For it is not meant to be a barrier to shut us away form God; rather it is intended to be a school to prepare us for approaching God. Elsewhere Jesus gives this explicit instruction: “If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
Thus the gate of prayer is a gate of love. Nothing unloving can enter it. The bar of heaven’s door lifted not when the banished Peri came with earth’s precious things, until she had brought a penitent’s tear. Then it opened and she was admitted. Whatever other acceptable offerings we may bring to the golden gate of prayer, it will not open to us until in our heart we bring love.
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