Day 16

“When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.” —JOHN 4:46-47

When the royal official heard of Jesus’ arrival in Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to heal his dying son. He went straight to Jesus himself. Being a royal official, we may assume he had authority to send a servant or representative to meet Jesus on his behalf. But instead he went to Jesus himself, asking, “Sir, come down before my child dies” (John 4:49).

I am always concerned by people who want to send someone else to Jesus on their behalf. We get others to pray for us, but we don’t actually talk to God ourselves! Some church leaders don’t help in this area when they encourage people to, “Send us your prayer requests.” This perpetuates an unhealthy spiritual immaturity where people assume someone else has better access to God than they do, and that his or her prayers are more effective. It is good to pray for one another, but I fear the notion set up by a Christian leader that his prayers will accomplish more. Go to Jesus yourself! Paul never asked people to send him their prayer requests and neither did Jesus. They encouraged the wonderful possibility of direct access to the Father by each person in need. We have the same access to God.

There is a place for intercessory prayer, and praying for others is important and good. We are to bear one another’s burdens. Some people may not be in a position to come to Christ themselves. They may be confused or without an appetite for God, and we pray on their behalf. But there must come a time when they approach Him themselves and not through an intermediary.

The concept that we can gang up on God to get Him into action, rather than coming in personal humble dependence on Him is misleading. The official went directly to Jesus and not to His disciples. Don’t run to a counsellor or a book or a church or a preacher without also running to Jesus. No one is a substitute for doing business with Jesus Himself and we all have the same access to Him.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I am so grateful that You have given us all direct access to You. It’s what makes for a deeply enriching relationship, and I treasure the time I spend in communion with You. Thank You, Lord, for your wonderful presence in my life.

TO REFLECT UPON: Have I ever thought that someone else’s prayers may be more effective than my own, and if so, why? Do I encourage people to pray?