Now we come to the Christians who were praying at Mary's house. We're told twice in this chapter that they were praying for Peter; in verse 5 and in verse 12. That part of the lesson they give us is wonderful. It's a great example of Christians praying for other Christians. We need to know and should enjoy knowing when others are praying for us. Jesus told Peter, "I will pray for you that your faith will not fail". What's it mean to us to know others are praying for us? It's uplifting.
The problem with this group though seems to be the attitude behind their prayers. They seemed to know the order, form and procedure for prayer. However, in verse14 their prayers were answered in the most direct and concrete way possible. Peter was standing at the door. Yet in verse 15 they can't or don't believe it's happened. The prayers of these believers were like emergency levers. They grabbed ahold of it held on for dear life wondering if it would work.
They remind me of Huck Finn when Miss Watson tried to teach him to pray. Huck decided to pray for fish hooks. When he woke up the next morning and didn't have his hooks he decided he couldn't make it work. Do we believe in prayer or are we shocked when we see it work? In verse 16, after Rhoda has been insistent they were still astonished to see Peter. Like Thomas and too many of us, they had faith in the flesh, not faith in faith. Their reaction in verse 16 shows us they didn't "walk in faith not in sight." Literally and figuratively they kept a door closed they should have opened with faith.
Was their faith really in the power of God or like many of us did they treat Him like Santa Claus; asking for something they hope to get but not expecting it?
"When the Son of Man returns will he find faith?" What kind?
No comments:
Post a Comment