Weekly Devotional 10-17-16
It Doesn’t Need Reporting, It Needs Fixing
How often have you, have I, been guilty of asking God to move on behalf of someone knowing all along that you or I have the wherewithal to supply the need of said person? Rather than supply that need, you or I pray that God will provide for this said person. Is such a prayer a prayer of insincerity? These thoughts came to me recently when a friend and I were talking about a certain appliance that needed repair. We both thought about who we might contact when all of a sudden he uttered these words “It doesn’t need reporting, it needs fixing.”
As I thought further about this, Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan came to mind. We read from Luke 10:25-37 (NKJV); “25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ 26He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ 27So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ 28And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ 29But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ 30Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ 37And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Do you see the similarity? While there are differences in this parable from our prayer life, the principle is the same. When we are aware of a particular need and have in our possession the supply and do nothing to satisfy the need, are we different from the passers-by of the parable?
Praying for someone is great, in fact is commanded, but if we are sincere in our prayers for them and we have the supply shouldn’t we be moved to that end? If we would listen for God’s response when we pray perhaps we would hear Him say, “Fix it.”
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man