Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:13-16
I do not discount the power of God activated through the prayers of a faithful and obedient follower. As a teenager, I remember repeating the the answer to the chant “Who ya gonna call”? “Ghostbusters!” Today, I guess people would say “You better call Saul”. But, in the first century, James said we should call the “elders”. He says that when afflictions (suffering) come, pray. When cheerful, sing (particularly praises to God). But when you are so weak and sick (to the point of exhaustion), call for those older, both men and women, who have seen a bit more life, have exercised their faith, seen the power of God- and have them anoint you with oil and offer a prayer in faith for restoration.
In James admonition, there seems to be a connection between weakness, sickness and sin. Thankfully, included in his prescription is the confession of sin that leads to forgiveness. That alone will restore health to the bones!
Am I quick to pray in affliction? Faithful to praise God in seasons of cheer? As an older person, do people seek me out for prayer, trusting my faith in God would be beneficial?
God, as this day begins- I have a great sense of excitement, though there is little on my calendar. I am cheerful, so I will sing the song “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever” by Delirious.https://youtu.be/zeCwwaciAA8
I love the attitude and courage expressed in this resolution of pastor Jonathan Edwards. Life Resolution #7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
