Luke 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple… — A minister had noted among the most regular attendants at his church an aged woman. On all occasions she was in her place — always in time — always attentive. He sought her out and visited her, and great was his astonishment to find this poor woman so deaf as to be unable to hear a single word. By means of a slate he entered into conversation with her, and his first inquiry was, "Why, being too deaf to hear one word of the service, are you so regular in your attendance at the house of God?" "Oh, sir," she replied, with warm tears swelling up from her eyes, "it is my Father's house, and I love to be there. He meets me in His own sanctuary, and I can, in spirit, join in the prayer and praise, though the words of others may not reach me; and as Jesus speaks to my soul, I hear the whispers of His love, though my outer ears are dead to all the sounds of earth. I love to be in the assembly of God's people, because they are the people of God, the children of my Father, and and it is very pleasant to be in such good company, though I can no longer converse with them. There is now very little left that I can do for the cause and the kingdom of my Redeemer, besides trying to set a right example. My day for active effort is past, and all I can now do is to seek to influence others by the power of a humble and earnest life. Even this will soon be over, and while the opportunity remains I would improve it for my Master's glory. He did not in His last hour of deepest agony forget us poor sinners; and shall we weary of our lightest yoke, and throw it off before our last hour has come?" What a powerful reproof was this aged woman's example to those who, with faculties still unimpaired, and strength unabated by the infirmities of age, yet wilfully absent themselves from God's house! Served God with fastings and prayers. Parallel Verses KJV: And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. |
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