"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." [John 14:13,14]"Don't Slack Off" is the heading for today's OC devotion. Intercession is the point of this kind of prayer. To slack off in prayer is the worst mistake for a Christian, because we can't DO the work of God; we can only ask HIM to do His work. Can I make a sinner change his ways? Can I make an unbeliever change his mind? Many intellectuals think they can, with reason or argument, persuade others. But only the Holy Spirit can convict and bring regeneration to unbelievers. If I would see this happening, Jesus says I must ask, and he will do it.
So while I am often tempted from every direction to fritter my time away in study, self-improvement, writing, and so many other things---the one most important work that is truly God's work, the work of intercession, I neglect. How can we let this happen? Do we Christians today think, as the world does, that knowledge is power, or money is power, or that with political influence we can help the Church or God's saving work to be advanced? These things may help, but they cannot be the central thrust of our effort. Intercession must be the center, as only prayer is directly connected to Jesus himself. It is in his Name and TO HIM that we pray. "Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate on Him?" Then spend all my effort in thinking and working and arguing and talking? When will I learn? When will I grow up?
Lord, move me to prayer today, and tomorrow and every day. Draw me to your presence, that I may pray and not merely fritter away my life in lesser business. IJNA
2 comments:
I was moved by this. John Armstrong mentions in his blog that Millenials are especially vulnerable to frittering away their time in ridiculous pursuits. We are so keen to play video games, internet, watch TV without doing anything of substance. We need the gospel, of course, to overcome the mediocrity of our generation.
How sad. I have often lamented that mediocrity is my bane too, or as Dr. Lee used to call it, scatter-brain. Just entertain oneself till no time is left for real substance. And trying to get my kids out of this lifestyle... how does one convince another to make such a change? But we mustn't give up.
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