Weekend Word

 Both devotionals are from Beside the Still Waters...

Effective Prayer - Read: Luke 11:1-13, Matthew 6:1-8

"God be merciful to me a sinner" - Luke 18:13

Prayer is the Christians vital breath, and it is impossible to maintain our spiritual life without it.  How can we pray effectively?  Here are five points from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6.  Do not pray to be seen of men.  Have a private place for communing with God.  Do not use vain repetitions, as if to make the prayer more persuasive.  Recognize God as a caring Father.  Forgive others, because malice and prayer do not mix.

Here are five points from other scriptures.  "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  "Watch and pray" (Matthew 26:41).  "Prayer and fasting" are especially effective (Mark 9:29).  A "prayer of faith" is essential, and "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:15-16).

It is encouraging to look at some effective prayers in the Bible.  After David sinned grievously, he offered a prayer that included these petitions: "Have mercy upon me." "Cleanse me from my sin."  "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."  "Create in me a clean heart" (Psalm 51).  David's prayer was answered!

In the Old Testament, Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and no rain came for three and a half years.  He prayed that it would rain, and God answered his prayer (1 Kings 17-18).  God also heard and answered the prayer of the thief on the cross, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42).

In Acts 4, after Peter and John were threatened by the Jewish ruler, the believers lifted up their voice to God with one accord.  The outcome?  "the place was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).  May we have a similar experience through our prayers!

Joseph Kuepfer - Newton, ON

Friendship and Fellowship - Read:2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 1 John 1:1-10

"How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?" - Mark 2:16

Ken has been a close friend for more than twenty years.  He is a "good man" who works hard, treats his neighbors well, and abstains from alcohol, tobacco, filthy language.  But our friendship is frustrating in a sense because Ken has no interest in Christianity, although he is respectful of Christians.  Can a Christian really have friendship with such a man?  Doesn't James 4:4 say that whoever wants to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God?

Another close friend of over fifty years is Gary.  The first nine years of our association were simply a friendship, but the remainder has been a fellowship.  What changed?  "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).  An additional Person was added to our friendship, and it became a fellowship.

Is there a difference between a friendship with the world and friendship with a man of the world?  The term "world" refers to a value system that appeals to man's selfish and depraved nature.  In harmony with this system are those who know not Christ as Lord and Saviour.  The world is a Christian's enemy, but the worldly are his mission field.

The world has a relentless hostility towards Christianity, but "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  We must always be careful lest we are more influenced by worldly friends than vice versa.  Our outreach efforts will fail miserably if done in our own power, but God's grace is always sufficient.  Exclusiveness repels the world, but sincere charity without compromise is in perfect harmony with the actions of Jesus and will attract the lost.  May we faithfully follow His example.

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

Blest be the tie that binds  Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

-John Fawcett

IF

If any little word of mine may make a life the brighter,

If any little song of mine may make a heart the lighter,

God, help me speak the little word,

And make my bit of singing,

And drop it in some lonely vale

To set the echoes ringing.

If any little love of mine may make a life the sweeter,

If any little care of mine makes other lives completer,

If any lift of mine may ease

The burden of another,

God, give me love and care and strength

To help my toiling brother.

- Anonymous