Baptism teaches us
this, when it tells us that our old selfish nature is to be washed
away, and a new character, after the pattern of Christ, is to live
and grow up in us; that from the day we are baptized, to the day of
our death, we should live not for ourselves, but for Jesus, in whom
was no selfishness; when it teaches us that we are not only children
of God, but members of Christ's Family, and heirs of God's kingdom,
and therefore bound to make common cause with all other members of
that Family, to live and labour for the common good of all our
fellow-citizens in that kingdom. The Lord's prayer teaches us this,
when He tells us to pray, not "My Father," but "Our Father;" not "my
soul be saved," but "Thy kingdom come;" not "give ME," but "give US
our daily bread;" not "forgive ME," but "forgive US our trespasses,"
and that only as we forgive others; not "lead ME not," but "lead US
not into temptation;" not "deliver ME," but "deliver US from evil."
After THAT manner the Lord told us to pray; and, in proportion as we
pray in that manner, asking for nothing for ourselves which we do not
ask for everyone else in the whole world, just so far and no farther
will God HEAR our prayers. He who asks for God's Spirit for himself
only, and forgets that all the world need it as much as he, is not
asking for God's Spirit at all, and does not know even what God's
Spirit is.
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