Bible League: Living His Word The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.Some might think that our verse for today implies that in order to get good things from God we must search for a righteous person and convince him or her to pray for us. From this point of view, the only prayers that have great power and produce wonderful results are the prayers of someone who lives as close as possible to sinless perfection. From this point of view, people who still sin need a "holy man" or a "holy woman" to pray for us if we want good results. After all, isn't that why James referenced the prophet Elijah as an example of a righteous person in the verses that immediately follow our verse for today? This interpretation, however, rests upon a misunderstanding of what it means to be righteous from the biblical point of view. From the Bible's perspective, it is not the self-righteous who are righteous in God's eyes. Indeed, the Bible teaches that no one is righteous in that way (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10), not even Elijah. Instead, the righteous are those who have been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has been "made right with God through Christ" (II Corinthians 5:21). Given the righteousness that we have in Christ Jesus, anyone in Christ may come before God in prayer with a clear conscience and without fear of condemnation. In point of fact, anyone in Christ may come before God with the expectation of good results. Hebrews 4:16 says "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." We don't have to grovel before God or get someone better than us to get what we need. Every Christian may come before Him with great confidence. James referenced Elijah not as a holy man who was more righteous than anyone else, but as a mere man who was as "human as we are" (James 5:17). Elijah is not an example of holy self-righteousness, but an example of the righteousness that comes from God. It was for this reason that his prayer that it would not rain was powerful and effective. Although it's always good to gather in prayer with others (Matthew 18:20), you don't have to find an Elijah to pray for you, or hold off on your prayers until you reach Elijah's level. Your prayers can be powerful and effective today. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 120-123 Psalm 120 -- In my distress, I cried to the Lord. He answered me. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 121 -- I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 122 -- I was glad when they said to me, "Let's go to the Lord's house!" NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 123 -- To you I do lift up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 6 1 Corinthians 6 -- Lawsuits between Believers; Honor God with Your Body NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Insight To love others was not a new commandment, but to love others as much as Christ loved others was revolutionary. Challenge Now we are to love others based on Jesus' sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to Christ; it will also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. Jesus was a living example of God's love, as we are to be living examples of Jesus' love. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Micah 2:13 The breaker is come up before them.Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ travelled the road, but he has slain thine enemies. Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Dost thou fear death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count. "Proclaim aloud the Saviour's fame, Who bears the Breaker's wond'rous name; Sweet name; and it becomes him well, Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell." Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES." John 4:6 and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. John 11:33,35 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, • Jesus wept. Hebrews 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Psalm 102:19,20 For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth, • To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death, Job 23:10 "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Psalm 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. Zechariah 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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