“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” (1 Thess. 4:9 KJV).
How can you show the love of God that is in you? There are a whole lot of ways you can show love. You can show love by giving. You can show love by not fighting. You can show love by helping somebody. However, the greatest way to show your love for someone is by praying for them.
For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
(1 Thess. 3:9 KJV)
I want you to notice how they pray. Paul said that they pray night and day, and they do it exceedingly, and they’re just caught up in doing it, so that they can help fix whatever problem is bothering them. The love of God in Paul motivated him to pray for the church at Thessalonica.
When you love, then you want to pray because love motivates you to bless others. And praying for others is walking in the love of God. The way you know it is a genuine act of love to pray for someone else is that it takes real time to do it.
There is always something else that you have to do besides pray. It may be a Friday night, the night you go out and have fun, or you could be watching your favorite show on television.
There are a number of things you could be doing, but love motivates you to forsake all other things at that specific time and pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ, and make a difference in the realm of the spirit, which will then manifest itself in the realm of the natural.
Your body always wants to do something else beside pray. About the time you begin to pray your body says, “O my knees hurt,” or “I forgot to do something,” or “I’m hungry.” Your body will do anything it can to try to squirm out from praying for other people. It will try to find something else to do.
But when you have control of your body and say, “No, we are going to stay right here and pray.” Well, that is an act of love. And God will honor you for giving your time and energy to prayer. Because of your act of kindness to pray, you will receive good measure pressed down shaken together running over giving into your life.
The most valuable thing you can give your pastor is prayer. I know one of the reasons why I am a success and don’t have trouble in my ministry to cause it to have to shut down is because a whole bunch of people have been praying for me. And I want to thank you.
Scripture References: 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Eph. 6:18; Col. 1:3
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).