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Praying for others

 

„For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet.”

Audiostream:

Mark 7:25

In the first place, this passage is meant to encourage us to pray for others. The woman who came to our Lord, in the history now before us, must doubtless have been in deep affliction. She saw a beloved child possessed by an unclean spirit. She saw her in a condition in which no teaching could reach the mind, and no medicine could heal the body - a condition only one degree better than death itself. She hears of Jesus, and beseeches Him to „cast forth the devil out of her daughter.”

She prays for one who could not pray for herself, and never rests till her prayer is granted. By prayer she obtains the cure which no human means could obtain. Through the prayer of the mother the daughter is healed. On her own behalf that daughter did not speak a word; but her mother spoke for her to the Lord, and did not speak in vain. Hopeless and desperate as her case appeared, she had a praying mother; and where there is a praying mother there is always hope.

The truth here taught is one of deep importance. The case here recorded is one that does not stand alone. Few duties are so strongly recommended by Scriptural example as the duty of intercessory prayer. There is a long catalogue of instances in Scripture which show the benefits that may be conferred on others by praying for them. The nobleman’s son at Capernaum, the centurion’s servant, the daughter of Jairus are all striking examples.

Wonderful as it may seem, God is pleased to do great things for souls, when friends and relations are moved to pray for them. „The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16)

Fathers and mothers are especially bound to remember the case of this woman. They cannot give their children new hearts. They can give them Christian education, and show them the way of life; but they cannot give them a will to choose Christ’s service and a mind to love God. Yet there is one thing they can always do: they can pray for them. They can pray for the conversion of profligate sons, who will have their own way, and run greedily into sin. They can pray for the conversion of worldly daughters, who set their affections on things below, and love pleasure more than God.

Such prayers are heard on high. Such prayers will often bring down blessings. Never, never let us forget that the children for whom many prayers have been offered seldom finally perish. Let us pray more for our sons and daughters. Even when they will not let us speak to them about religion, they cannot prevent us speaking for them to God. J. C. Ryle (1816 1900), Anglican bishop of Liverpool, England

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aantal posts:13

Wat leuk om engelse meditaties te horen!!