| The Golden Gate of Prayer |
Chapter 7 |
Page 5 |
Whatever there may be disheartening to those who pray this prayer day and night, because of the delay of the answer, we know that ultimately the triumph will be complete, that the kingdom of God will come in full and glorious power, and that all men will yield to its blessed sway, when “the kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.” There is a series of parables in which our Lord called his friends to faithfulness in watching for his coming. When he will come no one can know. It may be in the morning; it may be at noonday; it maybe in the evening. He would have us always ready, that his coming may never surprise us. It is not the watching of idle gazing that will please him, but the watching of diligence and faithfulness in duty. If we but keep ourself in the love of God, and do well our allotted tasks as they come to our hands, we shall do our part in bringing the kingdom of heaven in its power and shall be ready to welcome the King whenever he may come.
“If the Lord should come in the morning
As I go about my work,
The little things and the quiet things
That a servant cannot shirk,
Though nobody ever sees them,
And only the dear Lord cares
That they always are done in the light of the sun,
Would he take me unawares?
“If my Lord should come at noonday,
The time of the dust and heat,
When the glare is white and the air is still
And the hoof-beats sound in the street;
If my dear Lord came at noonday,
And smiled in my tired eyes,
Would it not be sweet his look to meet?
Would he take me by surprise?
“If the Lord came hither at evening,
In the fragrant dew and dusk,
When the world drops off its mantle
Of daylight like a husk,
And flowers in wonderful beauty,
And we fold our hands and rest,
Would his touch of my hands and rest,
Would his touch of my hand, his low command,
Bring me unhoped-for zest?
“Why do I ask and question?
He is ever coming to me,
Morning and noon and evening,
If I have but eyes to see.
And the daily load grows lighter,
The daily cares grow sweet,
For the Master is near, the Master is here,
I have only to sit at his feet.”
Page 5
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