Scripture & Thought
Luke 18:1 (MSG)
“Pray consistently and never quit.”
As young person and a new Christian, I remember someone quoting Paul from his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, chapter 5, verse 17: “Pray without ceasing.” I had no idea what that meant, but it seemed to me to be a strange instruction.
How could anyone do that, especially one as young as I was at the time? My adolescent mind was overwhelmed with new stuff to learn and new emotions to control. Paul must have been mistaken…or very old!
Eventually I learned that Paul was neither. He was, however, very wise. He knew that if anyone wanted to be a serious follower of Jesus, communication with the Savior was critically important.
The Authorized Version reads, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” I never really liked the word “ought” in this passage. “Ought” is fine when you use the word to describe strong possibility, “There’s a 90% likelihood of rain today.” That’s descriptive. But when it is prescriptive, “You ought to pray about this,” probability has ended and meddling has begun. Advice has left the room and obligation has taken over.
When Jesus uses the term, however, we should listen. He was speaking to his disciples when he said, “Pray consistently and never quit.” That’s still good advice for us.
Samuel Logan Brengle was a leader in the Salvation Army. From his conversion at a Methodist revival meeting when he was a teenager to his death in 1936, Brengle was admired for his spiritual depth and gifts of preaching and teaching.
Following the completion of his college studies, he pursued a divinity degree at Boston Theological Seminary (Boston University Divinity School). He was impressed with the work of William Booth and the Salvation Army, and he sought to be admitted to the Salvation Army Training Center in London. In time he rose through the ranks of the Salvation Army in the United States, attaining the rank of Commissioner – the first American-born officer to reach that rank.
He was once asked for his secret for living a holy life, to which he replied, “Keep in the will of God; obey Him; seek Him daily, waiting at His gates. Read the Bible regularly; never neglect secret prayer. Keep testifying to the grace bestowed upon you. Help others.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, hear my prayer today. Far too often I have postponed praying for other things that commanded my attention. Teach me how foolish this is. Help me to give a higher priority to the times I spend in prayer and contemplation of your Word. Forgive me for fainting when I should be fighting. Most of all, help me to never quit praying…until you tell me it it time to move on to something else.
Amen