Your prayer for the return of our Lord Jesus and for the health of your household is heard with thankfulness, and we join our hearts with yours before the throne of grace.
The whole Christian life is drawn in one line, coming unto Christ. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, chosen of God and precious. We are to be always coming to Him, coming to Him for spiritual food, for washing, for guiding, for help and for health, coming in fact for everything. Let it be the habit of your life to be incessantly coming to the heavenly Father, coming more often, coming for larger blessings, coming with greater expectation, for He bids us come. There is no better way of coming at first or afterwards than as a needy sinner to a gracious Saviour, lying flat and square upon Christ, who alone is able to save.
For the health of those dear to you and the children, we look to the one great Physician who lays His hands on men and they are restored. There is but one sacred Fountain opened on Calvary, and there grows but one Tree of Life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. A word from Christ, coming home to the heart as His, brings healing to head and heart and conscience. Pardon and healing are one in His hands, for when He said, Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you, the palsied man found both forgiveness and strength. We pray that the Sun of Righteousness may rise upon each one in your family with healing in His wings, and that the abiding power of those healing leaves may keep soul and body in His care till the glory life begins. We ask the Lord to grant temporal health as it pleases His wisdom, and above all to grant that inward health which comes by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
We would also stir up in you that which is the nutriment of family piety. Family prayer is the castle of our faith, and woe to those who allow it to cease. Let your household with double zeal draw near unto God, not only in private but together, that religion may be revived throughout the whole family and the Lord may dwell there. The Lord sees and knows all that ails you, and He is near at hand with eyes open, observing every need of your loved ones.
And concerning the coming of the Lord for which you pray, the hour is coming, says Christ, and every second brings it nearer. While the pendulum beats like the heart of time, we are borne onwards to that great event when all that are in the graves shall hear His voice. It needed a God to make the hearing ear at the first, and it shall need no more to renew it at the last. Blessed is that hope which looks for the appearing of the Saviour, and blessed are those who are found watching and coming to Him daily until He comes.
Let us pray together. O Lord our God, hasten the day when Thy Son shall appear in glory, and keep us watching and ready. Look in mercy upon this household and upon every dear one named before Thee and the children. Lay Thy healing hand upon them, forgive their sins for Christ's sake, and grant them health of body and health of soul according to Thy perfect will. Draw each heart to come continually to Jesus, to trust Him alone for salvation, and to walk in Thy holy way. Establish this family in Thy truth, let Thy Word dwell richly there, and let family prayer be kept up with faith and love. Sanctify all that is according to Thy will, and turn every heart from all that is not. We ask this not for our worthiness but for the sake of Jesus Christ our only hope, to whom be glory forever. Amen.