A Prayer for Christ
Luke xxiv. 29 v.
“Abide with us; for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.”
We often use the words as a cry for help in darkness; and they wonderfully express our need. Yet, I think, to the men who first uttered them, they were a prayer for Chrisfs benefit. These men had already reached home; but Christ seemed to be travelling still. They were sorry for Him. The night was dark and the way was long, and they asked Him to come in and rest. Is that a less beautiful prayer? It is ten times more beautiful. To ask my own relief from shadow is human; hut to ask Christ’s relief from shadow is divine. To hid Him shelter me is the cry of my nature; but the offer to shelter Him is the voice of God’s nature. The climax of all prayer is prayer for the journey of Jesus. Solicitude for Him, anxiety for Him, desire for the welfare of Him — this is the summer of supplication. Impotence becomes godlike, helplessness grows heavenly, the bended knee sujiports the sceptred hand, when I ask “for Jesus’ sake.”
Oh, Thou, who art still unsheltered in the night of time, abide with me. Come into my poor heart and rest awhile. The wind is cold, and the shades are deep, and the road reveals no end; abide this night with me. In the days of old, didst Thou not strengthen Thyself with love? Didst Thou not climb the lonely height to catch the glimpse of a Father’s smile? And shall a brother’s smile be powerless? Are there no heights in my heart where Thou canst still repose? My heart burns as Thou talkest; come and warm Thyself at its lire. Too long have I been content to ask from Thee; I have learned to ask /or Thee. I have learned to say before all things, “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” I would smooth Thy path amid the shadows. I would light Thy way through the gloom. I would ring bells of sympathy across the snow. Above all, I would meet Thee for one hour alone — one hour beneath my roof, one hour within my soul. I would tell Thee before going forth that I at least am with Thee. I would speak a word from my heart into Thy heart, to let Thee feel that it beats with Thine. I would give Thee what strength the little can lend to the great — the response of a kindred spirit, the Amen of a common prayer. Abide with me over this niht.