From what I have read, there are 59 unique “one another” statements in the New Testament. Which is the most repeated “one another” statement? You guessed it: “Love one another.” The one we are reviewing today (in James 5:16) as well as all of the others stem from loving one another.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
The context of this verse is both physical and spiritual healing. Even as disease and other maladies damage our physical body, so sin damages our souls. As we are aware of needs, we are commanded to pray, as a result of our love. It’s quite easy to tell someone we will pray and then go on our way and forget. A great practice that someone shared with us is to mention to our server at a restaurant that we will be praying to thank the Lord for our food, and then ask them if they have a prayer need for which we can pray. The responses have been quite varied over the years. Most seem to really appreciate that we care enough to ask how we can pray.
Of course, in the broader application of this command, we can pray for a wide variety of needs that others have. Here are some requests for pray in the Scriptures:
Rom 15:30-32 “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.”
Eph 6:18-20 “. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
1Th 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.”
2Th 3:1-2 1 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.”
Heb 13:18-19 “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.”
Let’s ask the Lord’s help to humble ourselves by asking others to pray for us, and to be obedient by praying for the needs of others.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Keith Neds