For a lark, my son entered a bodybuilding competition as a novice. As a strapping 27-year-old, he was in good shape, but nothing compared to that required for competition. I admired his resolve and discipline as for four months he carefully monitored what he ate and subjected himself to the rigors necessary for specific muscle development. Surprising even himself, he earned second place in the competition.
While we might make parallels between bodily discipline and the discipline of ourselves for godliness of which Paul speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, that's not where we're headed. My wife was torn in how to pray for my son in regard to the whole thing. Should she pray that he would win or at least make a good showing? Should she pray for... That's just it. She drew a blank.
Recognition of the dimension of spiritual warfare provided the answer to her prayer efforts. Spiritual warfare takes into account that we have an enemy, who opposes God, who courts the lusts of the flesh, often through the wares of the world. How would that recognition inform my wife's prayers? She could pray against Satan's efforts to make an idol of our son's physical appearance and the workout regimen his religion. She could pray against pride and other gravitational pulls of the flesh to lift up self over God. She could pray that the Spirit would work in him a profound gratitude and recognition of the goodness of God who formed him in her womb. Of course, she could also pray for similar resolve in his discipline of himself for godliness.
You see how it works. Bringing the dimension of spiritual warfare to our prayer lives opens the vista of the dangers posed by even the good things of life. It fleshes out specifics to the petition, "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil," as we would seek first the kingdom of God, His glory, His goals, His grace. The next time you pray for something ask yourself what you need to pray against, knowing our enemy the devil crouches at the door of the heart seeking spiritual detriment.
No Remedy
Hearing the words, 'You have a life-threatening illness,' is one thing. Hearing the words, 'There is no cure,' is quite another. No way out. No hope. No remedy. Those haunting words cut to the quick. Imagine another scenario, one where the illness is just as severe but there is hope. But the warning is ignored, the hope is spurned, even trampled upon.
In His compassion, the God of mercy and grace has dispatched messengers, His servants the prophets. He has caused His words to be written down, telling of His way of salvation, pointing to Him who is the way of escape from the coming wrath. The Son, the Prophet, the Message urges, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24) With those words of hope come words of warning: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (Jn. 3:36)
"No remedy." But the good news is that God has provided remedy and He has entrusted us as its dispensers. May we never grow weary in pursuing those who by God's grace come to see their dire circumstance and the provision of His remedy in the Righteous One, as long as the light of the day of salvation remains.
The LORD, the God of their father, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.
2 Chron. 36:15-16
In His compassion, the God of mercy and grace has dispatched messengers, His servants the prophets. He has caused His words to be written down, telling of His way of salvation, pointing to Him who is the way of escape from the coming wrath. The Son, the Prophet, the Message urges, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24) With those words of hope come words of warning: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (Jn. 3:36)
"No remedy." But the good news is that God has provided remedy and He has entrusted us as its dispensers. May we never grow weary in pursuing those who by God's grace come to see their dire circumstance and the provision of His remedy in the Righteous One, as long as the light of the day of salvation remains.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)