“God has His own secret stairway into every heart.” *

What a perfect sentence. What a view filled with love. And understanding.

When I read this simple, tender insight, it brought me the assurance that Love is present and taking care, everywhere, of everyone, now, always.

We can, and need to, know and trust this. Trust this for our loved ones. Trust this for one who seems far away, or appears not interested in God. Trust this for one who struggles with judgment or criticism. Trust this for those who appear unwanted. (They are not. No one is. Let’s know this). Trust this for those who have done wrong and feel condemned. In truth and in fact, in their true being and nature they are loved of God. Though they must find their way through their mistakes, this is their truth as well as our own, and the one God is their God as He is our own.

I recently met a lady whose story stirred my heart and brought me a clear realization of right prayer. She told me of a doctor who always prays before he treats his patients medically. In his quiet prayer while he was with my friend, the doctor prayed that a man who had committed grave injustice towards her family would find his way to salvation. That was his prayer.

Think of the impact of that prayer. It is a prayer that recognizes eternity. It is a prayer of understanding. Of compassion. It recognizes man’s true ultimate worth, to whom salvation, redemption, is available. It leaves no one out of God’s care or God’s kingdom. But opens the door for that individual who seems outside to find his way home. That doctor knows, as Mr. Barclay assures us, “God has His own secret stairway into every heart.”

“********
*.William Barclay has a way with words and a love of the Bible and in particular, Christ Jesus, that resounds through time and makes us see today what he saw many years ago. If you ever want a view of the life, times, and surround of Jesus, you’ll do well to investigate. Mr. Barclay and his writings on the books of the New Testament.

My understanding is that in the 1970’s, on Sunday nights in Scotland, “everyone” turned on television to hear Mr. Barclay. Though I wouldn’t agree with all his insights and conclusions, I would still have been one of those viewers.