Sunday: Conclusions Regarding Prayer
WEEK 43
SUNDAY
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING PRAYER
Philippians 1:3-5, 9-11
We must pause a little longer to look at the last two instances of prayer in the Acts and to draw our conclusions.
“The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar! Indeed, God has also graciously given you everyone sailing with you’” (Acts 27:24). Even here the thought was not for Paul’s personal safety but for his witness before Caesar. And the deliverance for witnessing included giving him the safety of his fellow passengers. Again prayer was outgoing, thinking of witnessing and of the safety of others.
The final instance is this:
Publius’ father was bedridden, sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul went to see him and prayed. He placed his hand on him and healed him. Once this happened, the rest of the sick on the island came to him and were healed. They honored us in many ways. When we were getting ready to sail again, they supplied us with what we needed. (28:8-10)
This last instance is revealing: prayer was for others, for this healing, still outgoing.
In the Acts, prayer had been redeemed. From being a self-concerned act of getting benefits for oneself, it became the agent of glorious redemption. Everywhere prayer was love in action through God. People were reaching out through God to touch others redemptively. In the process, prayer itself was redeemed. It was turned out instead of in; except in one instance, when they prayed for the Holy Spirit for themselves. Then we can pray all out for ourselves. For if the Spirit comes, he takes over the self. Prayer then is not for us but for One, to control and guide and use the self.
Then is there no place in prayer for our own personal needs? Is that ruled out? No, they are provided for, but indirectly. Note the last thing said about Paul praying for the sick of the island was, “they supplied us with what we needed”—the last thing was that their needs were all met—“what we needed.” That brought them out at the place Jesus had promised: “Desire first and foremost God’s kingdom . . . and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt 6:33). “All these things” come as a by-product of seeking the kingdom first. This is the right order.
O Jesus, you have guaranteed our needs if we seek the kingdom first. Then help me to get first things first. If my eye is single, my whole body will be full of light. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I shall seek God’s Spirit for my spirit so that my spirit may be given to others.