Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 6, 2022
Read James 5:13-16
13 If any of you are suffering, they should pray. If any of you are happy, they should sing. 14 If any of you are sick, they should call for the elders of the church, and the elders should pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Prayer that comes from faith will heal the sick, for the Lord will restore them to health. And if they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.
Good morning! Pray for one another!
James, the brother of Jesus, continued teaching the Word and working to bring new disciples until his own death. James spent much time working to teach others about how they should live and how they should respond to the Word. Some called James the doer because he preached and taught that followers are called to do good works in response to their salvation.
This line of conversation often causes controversy among Bible scholars because it causes some to interpret James’ words that good works are necessary for salvation. James says that because we are saved by the death and resurrection of Christ we should then serve others through the love taught by Christ.
In this short passage, James talks about the power of prayer. Praying on behalf of others is part of our service to God. As believers, we have been given the responsibility to pray earnestly for all of God’s children. Paul tells us throughout his letters that we must pray continually.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV)
Prayer is our portal to God. Our prayers can be short or long, spoken or unspoken, on our knees or on the run. Praying to God is like breathing: praying restores our souls. Offering prayers on behalf of others lifts up the one in need as well as the one who is praying.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We stumble and feel inadequate in our attempts to pray. Thank you for listening even when our words don’t form. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Opportunities to offer love and compassion are all around us.
Speak to God today! Pastor Liz