Day of Praise

Sa, Feb 9, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

When I was a kid, either 3 or 4 years old, my brother, Ben, got the coolest race car track for Christmas. It was curvy and red. When our family shared mealtime prayers, we'd all add a "P.S." after the group prayer, and for weeks, maybe months, I'd pray, "P.S. Dear Jesus, thank you for Ben's red race track."

I think this must be why Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).

Children can be happy with the simplest things. Yes, I believe in today's verse from James 5:16 that God can and does work physical healing through the prayers of those who trust in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. But I also believe that there is a powerful healing that happens when we have a child-like happiness in the "simplest thing" of being prayed for.

I don't know about you. But I thank the Lord that when somebody tells me that they pray for me, I feel happier than if they'd told me that I'd just won a bazillion dollars.

Or when someone tells me they appreciate me. Wow! That's better than a gazillion dollars, which is like a bazillion bazillion.

Or when somebody keeps a letter you wrote. Or wishes you sweet dreams before you go to bed. Or like I tell my kids who are aged 14-20, "Jesus is with you all night long."

These are the simple things. The child-like things. The kingdom of heaven things. The righteous things. The things that heal. The things of God.

They don't cost a penny.

And yet they're worth more than all the gold and silver in the world.

But, of course, a little red race car track to a 4-year old might come close. Indeed, "P.S. Dear Jesus, thank you for Ben's red race track."

And for all the simple things that bring heaven to the heart of a child...

and to every adult who hasn't lost touch with the healing power of the simple prayers and ways of a child.

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson