Let's Run this Race Together

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the prayers 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. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit." - James 5:13-18

Ah, so we have come to some of my favorite scripture in James. Lets discover together what rich application is within these verses.

Isn't it so much more simple than many of us make it? If we are suffering, we should pray; if we are cheerful, we should sing praises; if we are sick, we should have church family pray over us and....anoint us with oil?

Let's first explain this anointing with oil business. Interestingly, anointing with oil back in the time of Jesus (as we like to refer to it) was a symbol of love and respect (see Jesus' anointing in Luke 7:36-40). Thus why church family would practice this during a person's time of weakness (the Greek word translated "sick" literally means "weak"); to show their support.

This scripture testifies to the power and importance of prayer, but most importantly, to the importance of union, love, and support within the body of Christ. By confessing our sins to one another, praying for one another, rejoicing together, anointing one another, we save each-other. This community of love is truly what makes this Christian life livable. Persecution, addiction, and pain is hard to go through, but together we can bare it. If we all pick up our crosses and follow Jesus, we might be surprised to find that this walk together truly is the easy yoke.

1. Start or join a group. If your not part of a church, join one (or start one!). And if you are part of a church, get more involved, start an accountability group, a ministry group, or a Bible study group. Don't like leading? Than join one that already exists!

2. Make Christian friends. If you don't have Christian friends, you are in a bad spot to be in. Sure, you can hold relationships with non-Christians, but the deep relationships that are as family need to be Christ-centered.

3. Start praying for the Christian body. We need to be praying for each-other. Seriously. In Acts, Peter is released from prison because of the Church's prayers lifted up to God (Acts 12:5-19). Find a friend in need (or anyone at anytime because we are needy people) and pray for him/her earnestly.

Blessings.