| The Building of Character |
Chapter 23 |
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Perhaps we are not accustomed to think of praying for others in just this way, as a duty, the omission of which is a sin against God. We think of it as a privilege, but scarcely as a part of love’s solemn duty. We are in danger of narrowing our prayers to ourselves and our own wants. We think of our own sorrows and trials, our own duties, our own work, our own spiritual growth, and too often do not look out of the window upon our friend’s rough path or sore struggle. But selfishness in praying is one of the worst forms of selfishness. If ever love reaches its best and purest it ought to be when we are standing before God.
Or our ceasing to pray for our friends may be from want of deep earnest thought concerning them. We pray for them when they are sick or in sore trouble, but at other times are not impressed with the truth that they need our prayers. Their wants or perils are not apparent to us. They seem to be happy. There is nothing of which we are aware in their life which appeals to our sympathy. We see only the surface, and are oblivious to their deeper necessities or dangers. We forget that they are souls, with immortal needs; that they have enemies which we cannot see, who are seeking their hurt continually; that in this vast, complex life there are a thousand influences touching them which tend to destroy them; that only the hand of Christ can safely lead them through this perilous life; that they are to live for ever and have interests which project into eternity. We are apt to forget that our bright, happy, gentle, attractive friends without Christ are lost. We need to think of these deeper spiritual needs of those about us lest we cease to pray for them, and so sin against God.
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