DAY 327

THE PRAYER OF THE FAITH

Ezekiel 20 & 21 and James 5

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 

This is one of my favorite verses from James—before we get to it chapter 20 and 21 of Ezekiel are, as always strong. Ezekiel 20 is has the prophet inviting the people to reconsider their history. They have a picture of history in their minds, but Ezekiel asks them to consider another. We all have pictures in our mind of our story with God. Then of course there is this chapter, chapter 21, on the sword—pretty violent stuff. And then of course the beginning of James is pretty tough as well. But then we get to verse 13.

We just had calling hours for a parishioner, it was held as the Cathedral with over 700 people coming through the doors. Before this person passed away I spent more than a few days praying for this person, visiting and anointing this person…and I was there at their passing. So how is it that the prayer of the faith will save? Simply that death is not the end…for the Lord has raised him up.