26

26

EXTRACT

The Lord gives the disciples the secret of preservation; the

secret for them and for us is nearness to God. Prayer, if it

means anything, means being with God; if not, prayer is of

very little worth. The habit of prayer is to be cultivated;

otherwise, when the moment of pressure comes, it is too late

to begin to pray. That is often the mistake with us; we think we

can begin to pray when the pressure comes, but that will not

do. He went as His custom was to the mount of Olives. It must

be a customary thing to retire into the nearness of heaven and

the presence of God.

C. A. Coates (‘Outline of Luke’s Gospel’, p.280)

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