Verses:
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.
(Eph. 6:18)
The inclusive nature of Paul’s language is always stimulating. There is a tendency to lean toward “favorites” or attractive personalities when it comes to praying. Or perhaps praying for those who are “on the front line” of kingdom work. Yet the text calls us to persevere and pray for all the saints. This provides us with several thoughts.
First, perseverance is a community idea. The Christian is designed for community. We are never to go it alone or fly solo. There is strength in numbers and this is found in community. Within the believing community we find strength to persevere.
We feed off of one another’s endurance. When we see others succeed where we currently struggle, we are encouraged to stay the course.
Second, prayer is impartial. We are to pray for all the saints, not simply our favorites or those we know best. It is for this reason our church directory is so vital in carrying out this admonition. It is always an encouragement to me to know that many within our community of faith are praying for my wife and I and family on specific days of the week.
Third, because no one is exempt from the battle everyone needs prayer and perseverance. No matter whom you are or what you do, you are in spiritual warfare. It is the result of our fall into sin. We should ardently pray for one another as we do battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. Evil is relentless and so must be the good.
May the invitation to pray and fast be an awakening to the warfare and then to our engagement in it. May we even now persevere and pray for all the saints.
by Pastor Pat Griffiths
