“...without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers…[I] Cease not...making mention of you in my prayers...always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers...making mention of thee always in my prayers.”
(Rom. 1:9; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 1:2; Phm. 1:4)
Not only did Paul mention, in a collective way, the seasoned believers in the church at Rome and those at Ephesus, but the newly formed assembly at Thessalonica as well. But he also prayed for individual saints, mentioning them by name, such as Philemon and Timothy, as well as others. Jesus prayed collectively and for individuals like Simon Peter.
Wouldn’t you have loved to have heard Paul, the old prayer-warrior, call out those names? Most of his prayers were for others; you might say this is the unselfish side of prayer. I believe Paul was at his best, not necessarily in his preaching or writing, but when praying. Can it be said of us that we are at our best when we’re a, prayer? (Especially intercessory prayer!)
What a sweet smelling savor to hear a child’s bedtime prayer naming off different people; the aged saint sitting alone in their rocker, head bowed, mentioning loved ones by name; and, that weak voice from a sickbed calling out the name of that wayward loved one. Some can no longer bow their knees but they do in their hearts. That’s what counts.
“There are a host of people with the same name, but don’t worry, God knows the one you’re referring to.”
(rds)
No comments:
Post a Comment