| On the right lines - priorities in prayer |
October 2006 index|
This is the third article looking at God’s Word reforming our praying as we engage in his mission. In his book ‘Patience in Hope’, J Philip Arthur writes: ‘Nothing will show what really matters to a person so effectively as his or her prayers. When we pray for others, it will often speak volumes about our sense of values’. |
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“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you” 1 Thessalonians 3:12 |
Paul writes “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). Having left the new church in Thessalonica, he gets good news of their faith and love, (3:6; 4:9-10), gives thanks for their ‘labour of love’ (1:3), and writes about his ‘night and day’ prayers for them. The heart of Paul’s prayers is that they should show increasing love – the hallmark of all Christians. He is not satisfied with their already remarkable love for one another. He wants it to increase and overflow. Notice two things about this love: Its Source. Unlike natural inclination, the love Paul speaks of comes from God. That is why they must pray for it. Its Objects. Paul prays for more love not only towards fellow Christians, but to all. How will this help in our prayers? First, self-denying love needs to be prayed for – even for those already demonstrating high levels of love. Secondly, we should pray for love for fellow Christians. Some of mission partners’ greatest problems are with Christian colleagues; we need to pray that their love will increase and abound. Thirdly, we need to pray for love for all. A feature of those involved with Crosslinks should be love towards non-Christians. This issue highlights how we should be praying for love for those, Christian or not, who have special need of it. That love needs to be demonstrated practically and consistently. And if at the same time we do not make Christ and his love known, then we are not really being loving. Finally Paul concludes by saying: “so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints” (v.13). The love he prays for will obviously impact the recipients, but it is also for the good of Christians who do the loving. It is very good for us to love.
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