“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months” (James 5:16–17).
It certainly can be a comfort to know that righteous people are praying for you. When the Israelites were struggling with the sin of idolatry, it had to be encouraging when Samuel told them: “I will pray to the Lord for you” (1 Samuel 7:5). In fact, at a later point, the prophet claimed that it would be a sin for him to cease praying for them (1 Samuel 12:23). When the blameless and upright Job lost nearly everything dear to him, we learn that his fortunes were restored “...when he prayed for his friends” (Job 42:10). As the apostle Paul faced the difficulties of his ministry, he urged fellow believers to “...strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15.30).
If you are a believer, would you be encouraged to know that Jesus Christ Himself prayed for you? As He neared the time for His own crucifixion, He talked to His Father. He prayed for Himself, His apostles, and, right near the end, He prayed for the unity of all those who would come to faith through the teaching of the apostles. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20–21).
If ever there was a righteous man, it was Jesus. And he prayed for you and me! What an incredible blessing and privilege! Thank you, Lord!
God loves you!
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment