The very abundance of Scripture in this request is itself a sign of grace, for it shows a heart that would not come before the throne with empty words but with the Word of God upon its lips. Yet let us remember that even the richest portions of Scripture, when recited without the Spirit, are but a form of godliness without power. The King of heaven is not delighted to hear us pronounce words with a frivolous tongue and a thoughtless mind. He is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. But here is our comfort: the ever blessed Spirit, from the throne of grace, will help us and teach us words, nay, write in our hearts the desires themselves. He will be Alpha and Omega to your prayer, just as he is to your salvation; for as salvation is from first to last of grace, so the sinner's approach to the throne of grace is of grace from first to last.
You ask for wisdom to know God's will and to walk in a worthy manner. That wisdom is never found by leaning on your own understanding, but by trusting in the Lord with all your heart. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears, but the secret is declared in this: whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Trust is the quiet resting of a child in the Father's hands. If we would have wisdom for pressing needs and happy grace for chores, we must first be made children of God, and then we can trust our affairs entirely to his care. He is a God of economy and order, not of idleness or rashness. Therefore plan and labor, but let your confidence be fixed on him.
The goal of our teaching, as you have written, is love from a purified heart, a faith with no contradiction, and a conscience without charges. That is real grace for real need. For none of us may claim a clean record by our own works. Sins of every kind, sins unseen of human eye, sins unknown to any but yourself and your God, are all read and proclaimed with trumpet voice while men and angels hear. We are scarlet, we are crimson, we are double dyed with our iniquities. Yet the throne before which we bow is the throne of the Lamb as well as the throne of God. In trusting to the merit of his blood, you have an all prevalent plea and full security for pardon, peace, and acceptance. From that throne no fiery bolt can ever again be hurled against the believer. Oh, what comfort there is for suffering saints in this conjunction of majesty and mercy.
You have prayed for renewal of first love. Let that prayer be answered by a return to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. What was our first love? It was that eager, childlike affection which could not bear to be long away from the secret place. If we did not get it early in the morning, we got it late at night. We were compelled to have time for prayer, and what prayer it was. We had no need then to groan because we could not pray, for love being fervent gave sweet liberty at the throne of grace. If coldness has crept in, let us return at once. The serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, and the same serpent would beguile you from single hearted devotion to Christ. Beware of the spirit of the world, for many who profess godliness are tainted with it. Take heed that you follow the right Spirit, for in so doing you will find the things which are freely given us of God, and with them glory and immortality and eternal life.
You desire fellowship with the Trinity and with your teams, your family, and the lost. This is a holy ambition. Fellowship with God was one of the richest privileges of unfallen man, when the Lord God walked in the garden and talked with Adam as a man talketh with his friend. And now in Christ we have fellowship with the Father in his purposes, in his plan, and in his glory. The decrees of God are satisfactory to us, for we love them and delight in them. But such fellowship demands that we walk in the light, as he is in the light, and that we hate evil doctrine and evil practice, even as we love pure truth and pure practice. The church of the living God is the pillar and ground of the truth. The truth is not only important, but substantial in its character. In these days men are apt to set light by it and, for the sake of peace and quiet, to suppose that contrary things can also be true. But God maintains his own truth. It is not committed to the hands of mortals apart from him. Therefore stand firm, and be not ashamed of him nor of his words in this evil generation.
Bring every need to the throne of grace with confidence. The sovereignty of God to a believer, to a pleader, to one who comes to God in Christ, is always exercised in pure grace. Grace is reigning; grace is God; God is love. Doubt not, halt not, hesitate not. Whether you ask for angelic ministry and protection, for the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness, or for restoration of the joy of initial forgiveness by fresh repentance, all these petitions are according to his will. The great self sacrifice of God is the great victory of divine grace. No one has prompted the grace of God. Out of his own heart the thought has come of itself. The gifts of his grace were in his eternal purpose from of old. Therefore come with holy boldness, yet with reverence, knowing that the one Mediator between God and man, our Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, ever liveth to make intercession for us.
Let the mind and meaning of God in every gift of grace be unfolded to you by the Spirit of God. All other teaching is superficial and therefore temporary and vain. Search the Scriptures, hear the truth of God through which the Spirit usually operates, and associate with those in whom the Spirit of God dwells. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. And be not content with bare knowledge, for the goal of our teaching is love from a purified heart. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Now go your way. Tend your own vineyard, keep your garden, and let the life giving sap of the vine flow naturally into every branch of your service. Abide in Christ, and you shall bring forth much fruit without forced effort, for the branch does not strain to produce the grape, but receives from the vine and bears fruit in season. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may you walk in the light of his countenance all your days, for Christ's sake. Amen.