That Important Prayer

There is that for which we pray often, and that which we pray for only occasionally, and perhaps not at all. An important element in Jesus' prayer, which He taught us as a set pattern for proper praying, is that He usesplural pronouns. Jesus thereby teaches us that we must pray that God will give us our daily bread, forgive us our debts, and lead us not into temptation. Our inclination, on the contrary, is to pray solely for self and the family.

Note this prayer that Paul asks us to present to our God. In I Thessalonians 5:28 he wrote, "Brethren, pray for us." Here we have a calling. As far as Paul is concerned it is his request. But because God moved him to present this request it is His command unto us. We have here a divine command to pray for others as well as for self.

Yes, we must pray for those who have Paul's and the other apostles' calling, that they too may rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to God. But what Paul has here in mind is also that prayer be made that the fruit on his and the other apostles' labor may increase to the glory of God, and that the churches may grow spiritually and abstain more and more from all evil, and reveal more thankfulness to God.

Take that word of Paul as referring to all God's elect children, no matter where they are, and to what nation, tongue, and tribe they belong physically. It is a prayer that the saints may grow in grace, in knowledge, and in faith.

Pray for God's church. Pray for all the members of Christ's body, of which you also are a member. Be concerned with them all, that this body may become perfect, spiritually as well as presently in heavenly glory.

Jesus taught us that when He commanded ¾ not merely suggested ¾ that we pray for God's kingdom to come, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Is that your prayer?

Read: II Thessalonians 3

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Isaiah 60; Isaiah 61; Isaiah 62:1-5 
Philippians 1:27-30; Philippians 2:1-18 
Psalm 72:1-20 
Proverbs 24:11-12
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Quote for Reflection: 

 … We do not want to throw the lambs to the wolves. In the Christian school, we are preparing them for the inevitable conflict that is coming. There is a war going on. It is not a carnal war, not a war "after the flesh," as the apostle writes in II Corinthians 10: 3ff., but a war that is spiritual, a war that has to do with "imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God." It is a war of ideas; of thoughts: of doctrines; of teachings. These are the great issues and battlefronts: the sovereignty of man versus the sovereignty of God; the reign of Antichrist versus the reign of Jesus the Christ; the authority of man's word versus the authority of God's Word, Holy Scripture; a life of pleasure-madness versus a life of holiness; despair versus hope; the worship of the totalitarian State versus the worship of God, the Father of Jesus Christ.    

-- David J. Engelsma