If any of you is in
trouble let him pray. If anyone is flourishing let him sing praises to God.
If anyone is ill he should send for the
Church elders. They should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s
name. Believing prayer will save the sick man; the Lord will restore him and
any sins that he has committed will be forgiven. You should get into the habit
of admitting your sins to each other, and praying for each other, so that if
sickness comes to you, you may be healed.
Tremendous power is made available
through a good man’s earnest prayer. Do you remember Elijah? He was a man like
us but he prayed earnestly that it should not rain. In fact, not a drop fell on
the land for three and a half years. Then he prayed again, the heavens gave the
rain and the earth sprouted with vegetation as usual. James 5:13-18
The thing is about James is his
straightforward practicality. And yet, how so often Christians don’t live by
what he says. So often I don’t live by what he says. We are indeed
so quick to turn to Him in prayer when problems hit; the corresponding action
is praise during the flourishing moments; All good gifts come from Him, the
Father of Lights.
A big gift and unifying thread
throughout James is that of Christian community. A place to confess sins, to
share troubles, to give praise to God, and to pray for one another. And
tremendous power is made available here. Certainly I will always remember
Cindy’s, “Have you asked the elders to anoint Heather with oil and prayer,” and
she was healed. And the Church is where we come to an end of ourselves. The end
of I can do it on my own. Well, me and Jesus. It is home instead to mutual
submission, mutual humility, mutual equality, mutual mercy, with no judging and
tearing each other apart.
And just now there is a sense of expectancy.
Aslan is on the move, and together, We the Church are looking expectantly
upward to the heavens; let the rain fall down.
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