"So the children of Israel said to Samuel, 'Do no cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.'" (1 Samuel 7:8)
Why didn't they? Too many opt out of, "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses...." They depend on others to do their praying for them. How foolish. You and I were created for fellowship, participation in the Godhead. "Adam, where are you?" is still the question of the Living Triune God to humanity.
Many of the Israelites, not only in our text, but also throughout much of Scripture, only seemed to see the Creator as a "go-to" in trouble. What had happened to the intended fellowship, as we read in Genesis, "....the sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day"? Lost in rebellion; selfishness, self-centeredness, self-reliance had taken over.
"Abide in Me, and I in you...." This is the intent of our Lord Jesus Christ from "ages past." This is Jesus' intent for you and me today, right now. "Philistines" will always be on the attack. We want them to stop, but they won't, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We do so appreciate others who pray for us, as we delight to pray for others. May we not be like the Hebrews in our text, however, seemingly solely dependent on Samuel to "do the praying." Prayer is fellowship, participation in the Living Triune God, regardless of "Philistines," trouble, pain.
Prayer is a response to Jesus' invitation, "Come to Me, all...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with the hymn writer, "Jesus, I come to Thee." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
