Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang
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Lent Devotion

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"At the Foot of the Cross" is an annual Lenten devotion written by clergy and lay leaders in the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. This devotion has been faithfully produced since 1992 and this year's theme is on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Join us as we journey together towards the foot of the cross.

 
 

27 March - Seeking Prayers

 

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

 

It is pretty common nowadays to hear Christians asking fellow Christians, “Please pray for me.” It may be a personal request as in the case of individuals requesting prayers for physical or spiritual healing or even corporate request for guidance upon the Church and her leadership, for example, guidance in nominating a new diocesan bishop. The electronic media has made this all the more possible but the question is whether we merely pay lip service to such a request or really pray for the other person(s)? For some Christians, the phrase, “Please pray for me” may merely be a cliché, but St. Paul fully believed in it. We see that pointedly in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3.

Paul closes his second letter to the Thessalonians by seeking prayers for his missionary team, particularly for Silvanus and Timothy (v.3:1). It reveals Paul’s awareness of his need of God and the importance of the prayers of the saints on our ministries. Unfortunately, much Christian work is determined by dependence on the strategies employed and in the dynamic personalities of people rather than on a prayerful dependence on the Lord. Here was a “giant” of a saint used mightily by the Lord and yet he humbly sought the prayer of the saints in Thessalonica.

The content of their prayer is twofold and both parts were ultimately related to the progress of the gospel, even though the second request was more personal, that is deliverance from ‘unreasonable and evil men, for all have not faith’ (v.3:2). The first request is that the message of gospel may spread progressively but in view of the fact that Satan and this world are always at work to hinder the message which led Paul to seek a second request. The message scored amazing success among the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:5, 6, 8; 2:13.) Paul and his team wanted this to be replicated.

Paul quickly turns to focus on the Lord and his faithfulness which turns our attention to the “being” of the Lord and his character. While there are many who do not have faith in the Lord and may oppose the gospel and its messengers, we can rest in the Lord because he is faithful and trustworthy. And this Lord will ‘strengthen’ you and ‘protect’ you from the evil one’ (v.3). Both these verbs are called “gnomic futures” in that they portray that which is true of the Lord at any time.

PONDER

Do I really pray when people ask me to?

PROMISE

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” (Psalm 126:5-6)

PRAYER

Abba, our Loving Heavenly Father, our prayers may be awkward and our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, help us to believe that our prayers do make a difference. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – adapted and paraphrased from Max Lucado’s quote.

Article by the Right Reverend Dr Jason Selvaraj, Area Bishop of the Southern Peninsula and Vicar of Christ Church, Malacca.

HTBB