Take several English translations of I Thessalonians 5:17:
- NIV - pray continually
- NASB - pray without ceasing
- NLT - Never stop praying
- AMP - Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]
- YLT - continually pray ye
The picture that always comes to mind is when I think of this passage is Tevye, from Fiddler on the Roof. When you see him alone, he's not really alone. He's talking with God. A free-flowing conversation, just as if he's talking to a companion on the roadside.
And he's honest! Look at this quote from the movie: "Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, 'What kind of mischief can I play on My friend Tevye?' "
How often do we think things like this? How often are we honest enough to admit that to God?
There are certainly those times when we must approach the Throne of Grace with reverence. We are, after all, approaching the King.
But we must also be mindful that God is our Loving Father; Jesus is our caring Brother. Our Redeemer. Our Friend. And we should approach Him as such as often as we can.
No comments:
Post a Comment