| Finding the Way |
Chapter 4 |
Page 7 |
There are urgent warnings in the Scriptures against the danger of losing the Divine abiding. We are exhorted not to grieve the Holy Spirit. There are many ways of grieving a friend. We may do it by unkindness, by indifference, by lack of hospitality. Jesus was a frequent Guest in a home in Bethany, and found rest, comfort, and the refreshment of love there. It must have been a home of gentleness and peace, or He would not have entered its doors so often, nor found such gladness there. We cannot think of it as being such a refuge and place of rest to Him if its atmosphere had been one of bitterness and strife.
A little Welsh girl went into a worldly home as a servant. All her life she had been used, in her own home, to godly ways – family prayers, grace at meals, reverence for God, love, kindness. In this home where she was employed all this was wanting. There was no prayer, no reverence, no love – instead there was profanity, bitterness, strife, heaven daring sin. After one night the little maid told her mistress that she could not stay – she was afraid to stay where God was not a Guest. If we would keep the heavenly Guest in our heart, we must make a home of love there for Him, with an atmosphere kindly and congenial. In a prayerless, loveless heart the heavenly Guest will not stay.
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