More on the self-centered nature of our prayers:
One of my students at Trinity made the comment that people today are more likely to "approach prayer as a domestic intercom for personal comforts" than, as John Piper says, "a wartime walkie-talkie" to contact headquarters to call in al the resources needed in our advance against the forces of darkness. (See Let the Nations Be Glad, p. 41 for more.)
Ouch! That is so on target. How often do we pray only for comfort, ours or someone else's, rather than for the advance of the Kingdom. This too is one of the evil one's traps. It is another indication of how "settlerish" we have become in the modern church. But we were designed for the adventure of Kingdom pursuits. We are called to be sojourners and life will neither "work" nor be satisfying until we abandon our comforts and live for His Kingdom and His righteousness (Mt. 6:33-34).
1 comment:
Oh, how the word comfort has evolved in our English language!
com=with
forte=strength
Biblically, our Comforter is the one who is our strength in the midst of tribulation, not an escape hatch from it.
Let not be concerned about receiving a life of ease and leisure, but let us pray that God would be with us and strengthen us, because if the world hated Him, we can be certain that they ain't gonna go easy on us.
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