Just an observation from my Bible reading today… It’s easy to miss the point of the overall, collective challenge by only paying attention to the specific, individual challenges…
First I’ll focus on the INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES of James 5:13–18…
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
“Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
“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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
“And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (ESV)
But here’s the COLLECTIVE CHALLENGE of the passage…
Prayer is powerful when offered in faith and in all kinds of situations… When we’re suffering, when we’re happy, when we’re sick, or when we’ve sinned… Hey, the thing we should do in all kinds of situations, circumstances, issues and times is… PRAY!!! As we’re urged in another location… “Pray without ceasing!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) And “Do not be anxious about anything, instead pray about EVERYTHING!” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Coffee With The Lord 