Image from newlifenarrabi.wordpress.com
Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4dd8exv
View devo: https://bit.ly/4eAEGeg
13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:13-20 NRSV Bible)
Have you ever had a doctor that said he or she would fire you as his/her patient if you did not follow his/her instructions? Well I did. I won't mention names out of fear he will find out and come looking after me! He was a marvelous man who loved Jesus and lived in awe of God because of how he saw in the human body the miracle of life and God's touch and handiwork. And I had had the good fortune of having the unique situation of having doctors who weighed more than me, and so their suggestion that I lose weight made me want to ask, but I never did, out of respect, "How are we going to do it?" That was until I moved to a certain church where my new doctor did not like to eat. He was a bummer at the introductory meetings where I liked to ask those present to list their favorite pig-out food. His response was nada. Thanks a lot, doc! The clue to weight loss is to have a regime or plan to follow, and what we have in this passage is a plan for strengthening our spiritual life.
The foundation of this plan is solid, for it is to have a steady and regular diet of prayer. In this passage, James invites us to approach every aspect of our lives—suffering, joy, and illness—with prayer and communal support. Prayer, in the conviction of James, helps reduce, if not remove, suffering. When we suffer, prayer connects us to God’s presence, reminding us that we are not alone. It makes sense for many are the times Jesus said for us to turn over to Him that which was a burden or weight. "Here You are, Jesus, my burdens that seem to get the best of me!" Jesus says, "They're mine, now!" And off we go.
What happens when the suffering goes away? Most of us get cheerful, and James says, this is the time to sing our praises to God! Imagine that?! A song that says to Jesus, "Thank You, Lord for my healing!" That song reaches the Heavens where angels join in and add to the worship of God. In moments of joy, singing praises allows us to express our gratitude and celebrate God’s goodness. The call to pray is not merely a suggestion; it is a powerful reminder that our relationship with God and with one another is integral to our healing and wholeness.
The next step is to invite the community to be involved in our worship and journey, for asking "the elders of the church" to "pray over (us)," and "anointing (us) with oil in the name of the Lord," is a powerful remedy. James encourages us to involve the community, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and support from others. Confession and prayer are acts of vulnerability that foster deep connections and facilitate healing.
Consider how prayer has played a role in your own life. Have you sought help from others when burdened? Have you shared your joys? Remember that both confession and celebration are vital components of our faith journey. James reminds us of our history and the history of Israel when Elijah prayed fervently that it would not rain and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. It was prayer later that brought the rains back and the harvest returned; prayer is powerful as is an adherence to a regime of faith such as outlined here by James.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift of prayer and for the community of believers who support us through our highs and lows. Help us to be open to both confessing our struggles and celebrating our joys with one another. May our prayers be sincere, our hearts be tender, and our faith be unwavering. Guide us to be vessels of Your love and grace in our lives and in the lives of others. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, take a moment to reach out to someone in your community. Whether they are experiencing suffering or joy, offer to pray with them or for them. Let this act of connection remind you of the power of shared faith and the healing that comes from openness and support.
I love you and I thank God for you,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
