Verse of the Day 2/21

 

Verse of the Day 2/21

 

James 5:13-14   Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Our men's Bible study finished our study in the book of James yesterday and it began with today's verses.  I like the heading that it used for the passage as shown in The Message below, "prayer to be reckoned with".  Isn't that what we would all like to have?  Do you feel that way about your prayers or those that you call upon to pray for you?

 

When you step back and take a look at the passage, consider the times when we are called to pray.  When you or someone around  you is suffering; when you are cheerful, happy; when you or someone  around you is sick.  The suffering mentioned is in regards to bad treatment or persecution and the prayer is for comfort.  The "sick" as mentioned here are those weakened by the  situation above.  It focuses on emotional strain which can lead to physical illness.  Okay, if you're suffering, sick or happy you should  pray.  You might say that our first response in all situations is to pray.  Prayers for relief, prayers for thanksgiving and praise; prayers over sorrow and  illness; and enlisting the  help of others in doing so.

 

It made me think of "first responders".  Police, fire fighters, paramedics and others  are all known and referenced as "first responders".   They receive a call about someone in  trouble and they jump into  action.   A 9-1-1 call goes out and  they respond.  Have you ever been in a hurry and headed out the door only to arrive at your  destination having forgotten an important item?  I know that I do it all the time.  Can you picture a fireman without a hose, having forgotten  to put it on the truck.  A police officer without their gun, paramedics  without there emergency bag and a stretcher at hand?  They grab those things automatically.  They don't have to even think about it.  That is how it should be with our prayers and for our seeking the help of others in our prayers.  Prayer should be our first response  to God.

 

The anointing mentioned  in verse 15 may speak of a ceremonial act by the elders.  But in the day, various "oils" and ointments were also the leading treatments of the day and may also have been applied for medicinal purposes.  Several commentators have mentioned that the two go together, praying for healing and using whatever means  possible, whatever means of treatment to heal and to deal with the problem at hand.

 

So, may we have "prayer to be reckoned with" employing all means to deal with what life throws at us.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

James 5:13-18The Message (MSG)

Prayer to Be Reckoned With

^13-15 Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.

^16-18 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

 

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