16 MARCH (PREACHED 1770)
Wait simply on Him
‘And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.’ Luke 9:28
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Luke 2:25–38
The Lord always accepts his people that wait simply upon him, though visits resembling what is here recorded are vouchsafed but now and then. The disciples were constantly with Jesus and often attended him when praying, but they only saw him transfigured once. He has many ways of doing us good besides that of giving sensible comfort. A season of special consolation is often near at hand when least expected, and therefore while we are waiting in the use of means, we have cause to be expecting good from the Lord—for he has not said to any, Seek ye me in vain [Isaiah 45:19].
They that live without prayer are out of the way of peace and comfort. You must not charge the Lord foolishly; if you seek him you shall find him—if you neglect him, the fault is your own. It is a dismal state to be prayerless. Why, are you not afraid to close your eyes at night, or to go out of your houses in the morning?
FOR MEDITATION:
When my prayers are a burden and task,
I have heard of thy wonderful name,
No wonder I little receive;
How great and exalted thou art;
O LORD, make me willing to ask,
But ah! I confess to my shame,
Since thou art so ready to give
It faintly impresses my heart:
Although I am bought with thy blood,
The beams of thy glory display,
And all thy salvation is mine;
As PETER once saw thee appear;
At a distance from thee my chief good,
That transported like him I may say,
I wander, and languish, and pine.
‘It is good for my soul to be here.’
But if thou hast appointed me still, To wrestle, and suffer, and fight;
Oh make me resigned to thy will, For all thine appointments are right:
This mercy, at least, I entreat, That knowing how vile I have been,
I with MARY may wait at thy feet, And weep o’er the pardon of sin.
SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 2 [5/5], LUKE 9:28
Milo 