April 2

"Many attend religious services, and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God; but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the blessing, and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. Often they feel that God has dealt hardly with them. They do not see that the fault is their own. By separating themselves from Jesus, they have shut away the light of His presence.

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.”

         Desire of Ages, page 84 from the chapter, 'The Passover visit'

    I had to spend time this week trying to arrange something in Newark. The person I was talking to told me that she would love to go to church but that she had no time to go. Perhaps that is true. Time is short these days, where do you find an hour .. let alone a thoughtful hour?

     Without trying to dumb down the issue, or give a Pastoral dispensation to spend a thoughtful 30 seconds in contemplation each day, might we look at the principle that we read about here? The need that we have is to be penitent people who, as Christians, are confident in Christ and reflect that in love for God.

     Maybe these last words are of the greatest importance. We should be deeply imbued with the Spirit of God. That of course brings us full circle, to the beginning of our blog in October last year. We should pray for the Holy Spirit every day.