Today we return for our every-six-months visit to a longstanding source of material here at C201, Jon Swanson’s blog 300 Words a Day. As always, click the header below to read at source.
Joining in the struggle
At the end of a letter, Paul wrote this:
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.
It’s a simple and understandable request for prayer. We might find it in any prayer letter from any missionary, any youth group fundraising letter, any letter from followers of Jesus in many parts of the world this morning: Pray that I will be kept safe, pray that I will get to come and see you.
It didn’t work. Not exactly. He went to Jerusalem. He was arrested. He was taken as a prisoner to Rome.
It did work. He wasn’t killed at several points. He was taken to Rome where he was, with joy, in their company, refreshed.
I think the most important part of his request to the church in Rome wasn’t the specific request of God. It was Paul’s request that they join him in his struggle by talking to God about him. He wanted them to be part of his team, to be interested in his progress, his safety, his effectiveness, his faith. It would mean that though they hadn’t ever seen him, they had a part in his work.
And as part of his team, they could ask God about keeping him safe and having influence.
There are people this morning you don’t know who would love you to join in their struggle. To own an interest in their obedience to God’s call for them. If you don’t have a name, simply do this: “God, there’s someone with the same kind of family situation I have, the same life calling I have, and they are in danger at this moment because of You. I want to be part of their struggle. Could you help them today?”
Some of the people who talked with God about Paul never met Paul. But apparently, he counted them as part of his team. And apparently, so did God.
When I’m weary from the fight
And trying to do what’s right
You bring times of refreshing to my soul
Christianity 201 