July 31

Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10.

We are to pray to Him who has commanded us to pray, the true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. To Him alone such honor is due, and He alone is able and willing to hear our prayers.

The one true God has made Himself known to us in three persons. It is the Triune God, the Holy Trinity. Those who believe in the Triune God are called Trinitarians. If you are not a Trinitarian, you really have no God at all; you are no better than the atheist, who asserts that there is no God. "He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father, which hath sent Him." So, then, every would-be prayer which is not directed to the Holy Trinity in reality is no prayer. Therefore we cannot join the heathen, the Mohammedans, the Jews, the lodges, the Christian Scientists; for in their so-called prayers they do not confess Christ; or if they do mention His name, it is not the Christ of the Scriptures; and a Christless God is no God, but is an idol, and such a prayer is idolatry. But such heathenish prayers are spoken to-day, in our enlightened age, by millions of people. The Roman Catholic calls upon the Virgin Mary, upon angels and so-called saints. That is heathenish idolatry. Scripture forbids us to call upon saints. For we read Isaiah 63:16: "Doubtless Thou art our Father; though Abraham" — a saint — "be ignorant of us and Israel" — another saint — "acknowledge us not, Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer; Thy name is from everlasting." And in His combat with Satan, Christ said: "Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."

Only that is a true prayer which is addressed to the Triune God, and only those who believe in this Triune God can pray acceptably. These true believers are in intimate spiritual communion with God. Laying hold of His mercies and His willingness to hear those who call upon Him, they are joyfully waiting for the answer of their dear Father in heaven, in whom they confidently trust.

Prayer.

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou Triune God, the only true God in heaven and earth, my hope rests in Thee; no one will be forsaken who waiteth on Thee. O show me Thy ways and teach me Thy paths; for Thou art the God of my help, daily do I wait

on Thee. Preserve my soul, save me, and lend Thine aid to all that concerns my welfare. Let me not be confounded, for I trust in Thee. O Thou only true, eternal God, Thou King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone hast immortality and dost dwell in a light to which no one can approach: we thank Thee that Thou hast revealed Thyself to us as one God in three Persons. We render unto Thee praise, honor, thanks, and glory. Amen.

Glory, glory, to the Father;

Glory, glory, to the Son;

Glory, glory, to the Spirit;

Glory to the Three in One!