ake Your Children to Jesus in Prayer
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them
and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. Matthew 19:13, NKJV.
In the days of Christ mothers brought their children to Him, that He might lay His
hands upon them in blessing. By this act they showed their faith in Jesus and the intense
anxiety of their hearts for the present and future welfare of the little ones committed to
their care. But the disciples could not see the need of interrupting the Master just for the
sake of noticing the children, and as they were sending these mothers away Jesus rebuked
the disciples and commanded the crowd to make way for these faithful mothers with their
little children. Said He, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for
of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
As the mothers passed along the dusty road and drew near the Savior, He saw the
unbidden tear and the quivering lip, as they offered a silent prayer in behalf of the children.
He heard the words of rebuke from the disciples, and promptly countermanded the order.
His great heart of love was open to receive the children. One after another, He took them
in His arms and blessed them, while one little child lay fast asleep, reclining against His
bosom. Jesus spoke words of encouragement to the mothers in reference to their work,
and oh, what a relief was thus brought to their minds! With what joy they dwelt upon
the goodness and mercy of Jesus, as they looked back to that memorable occasion! His
gracious words had removed the burden from their hearts and inspired them with fresh
hope and courage. All sense of weariness was gone.
This is an encouraging lesson to mothers for all time. After they have done the best
they can do for the good of their children, they may bring them to Jesus. Even the babes in
their mothers’ arms are precious in His sight. And as the mother’s heart yearns for the help
she knows she cannot give, the grace she cannot bestow, and she casts herself and children
into the merciful arms of Christ, He will receive and bless them, He will give peace, hope,
and happiness to mother and children.—Good Health, January 1880.
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A Prayer That Includes Us
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And
they divided His garments and cast lots. Luke 23:34, NKJV.
A great multitude followed the Savior to Calvary, many mocking and deriding; but
some were weeping and recounting His praise. Those whom He had healed of various
infirmities, and those whom He had raised from the dead, declared His marvelous works
with earnest voice, and demanded to know what Jesus had done that He should be treated
as a malefactor....
Jesus made no murmur of complaint; His face remained pale and serene, but great drops
of sweat stood upon His brow. There was no pitying hand to wipe the death-dew from His
face, nor words of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stay His human heart. He was
treading the winepress all alone; and of all the people there was none with Him. While the
soldiers were doing their fearful work, and He was enduring the most acute agony, Jesus
prayed for His enemies—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
His mind was borne from His own suffering to the crime of His persecutors, and the
terrible but just retribution that would be theirs. He pitied them in their ignorance and guilt.
No curses were called down upon the soldiers who were handling Him so roughly, no
vengeance was invoked upon the priests and rulers who were the cause of all His suffering,
and were then gloating over the accomplishment of their purpose, but only a plea for their
forgiveness—“for they know not what they do.”
Had they known that they were putting to exquisite torture One who had come to save
the sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have been seized with horror and remorse.
But their ignorance did not remove their guilt; for it was their privilege to know and accept
Jesus as their Savior. They rejected all evidence, and not only sinned against Heaven in
crucifying the King of Glory, but against the commonest feelings of humanity in putting
to a torturous death an innocent man. Jesus was earning the right to become the Advocate
for humanity in the Father’s presence. That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced
the world, taking in every sinner who should live, until the end of time.—The Spirit of
Prophecy 3:152-154.
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In Sincere Pursuit of Truth We Commune With
God
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
Ephesians 1:18, NKJV.
In a knowledge of God all true knowledge and real development have their source.
Wherever we turn, in the physical, the mental, or the spiritual realm; in whatever we behold,
apart from the blight of sin, this knowledge is revealed. Whatever line of investigation we
pursue, with a sincere purpose to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen,
mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of humanity is brought
into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite. The effect of such
communion on body and mind and soul is beyond estimate.
In this communion is found the highest education. It is God’s own method of
development. “Acquaint now thyself with him” (Job 22:21) is His message to humankind.
The method outlined in these words was the method followed in the education of the father
of our race. When in the glory of sinless manhood Adam stood in holy Eden, it was thus
that God instructed him....
When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and
spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. “God created man in his own image” (Genesis
1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer human beings lived the more fully they should
reveal this image—the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All the faculties were
capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase. Vast was the
scope offered for their exercise, glorious the field opened to their research.... Face-to-face,
heart-to-heart communion with his Maker was his high privilege. Had he remained loyal
to God, all this would have been his forever....
But by disobedience this was forfeited. Through sin the divine likeness was marred,
and well-nigh obliterated. Man’s physical powers were weakened, his mental capacity was
lessened, his spiritual vision dimmed. He had become subject to death. Yet the race was
not left without hope. By infinite love and mercy the plan of salvation had been devised,
and a life of probation was granted. To restore in the human family the image of their
Maker, to bring them back to the perfection in which they were created, to promote the
development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in their creation might be
realized—this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great
object of life.—Education, 14-16.
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Prayer Closely Related to Reformation
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and
seek My face, and turn from their wicked way