‘We Have Not Stopped Praying for You.’ (1)

 

 

 

 

 

[Colossians 1:9-14]

 

 

 

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, encourages the saints of the Thessalonian church, saying, "Pray without ceasing."  What does this mean, and how can we persistently pray to God without resting?  The phrase "pray without ceasing" doesn't suggest repetitious or continuous praying but rather implies praying with perseverance and regularity (MacArthur).  When we approach God with prayer requests, we should not give up but persistently and regularly pray.  However, this can be challenging as Satan constantly approaches us to deceive.  Especially when faced with prolonged difficulties or delays in prayer responses, Satan persistently tries to deceive us.  How does Satan deceive us?  He often presents deceptive shortcuts to entice us.  At such times, we have to choose between (1) continuing to trust God, praying with faith, hope, and patience, and waiting for His timing, or (2) opting for the shortcut Satan suggests, trying to obtain what we desire quickly (although the consequences of this choice can bring unforeseen pain, not only to us but also to our descendants).

 

Reflecting on "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17), I found myself contemplating five other Bible verses:

 

  • The first verse is from 1 Samuel 12:23: "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right."

 

When the Israelites requested Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines" (7:8), Samuel did not sin against the Lord by failing to pray for them (12:23).  This teaches us the lesson that, when it comes to the salvation of souls, especially our beloved prospects, we should not cease to pray.

 

  • The second Bible verse is from 2 Timothy 1:3 - "I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers."

 

In this verse, the Apostle Paul expresses gratitude to God while constantly remembering his beloved spiritual son, Timothy, in his prayers.  The reason behind Paul's thanksgiving is that he remembered Timothy's sincere faith, which had no deceit.  When contemplating this verse, we learn the lesson of persistently praying for our spiritual children, especially for their faith to be sincere and without deceit, just like Timothy's.

 

  • The third Bible verse is Acts 20:31 - "So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."

 

This verse is from Paul's speech to the elders of the Ephesian church in Miletus.  Paul warns them about the threat of false teachers who would harm the flock, both from outside and within the Ephesian church (Acts 20:29-30).  Following this warning, the elders are reminded to recall how Paul had not ceased to warn them for three years, night and day, with tears.  Reflecting on this verse, we understand the lesson of praying incessantly for the saints in the church to resist the temptations and deceptions of Satan.

 

  • The fourth Bible verse is Romans 1:9 - "God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you."

 

In this verse, Paul not only prayed for the Ephesian church but also prayed for the Roman believers.  The Modern Korean Bible translation says, "God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing, I mention you always in my prayers, continually making requests."  Reflecting on this verse, we learn the lesson of always remembering the saints in the church and praying for them with a mindset that says, "God is my witness."

 

  • The fifth Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe."

 

The Apostle Paul always gave thanks to God for the Thessalonian saints (1 Thess. 1:2).  In other words, Paul continually thanked God whenever he remembered, without ceasing, the Thessalonian believers' faith, labor of love, and patience in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God the Father (v. 3).  Even when he came to 1 Thessalonians 2:13, he continued to offer thanks to God without ceasing.  What was the reason for this continuous gratitude?  The reason was that the Thessalonian saints, through Paul and his fellow workers, received the word of God not as mere human words but as it truly is, the word of God.  Moreover, this divine word was actively at work within those who believed among them (v. 13).  When contemplating this passage, we are reminded to always remember and pray incessantly for the faith, labor of love, and enduring hope in Christ of our beloved saints.  Especially, we should pray without ceasing for the Word of God heard through the servants of the Lord to be received not as human words but as the divine truth, actively working within the hearts of those who believe.