Friends, I am no gambler, thank God. One reason is that I am one of the worst prognosticators. However, I was intrigued when recently reading Revelation 4:9-11. More on that in a minute.
The more I contemplate and even pray about prayer, the more I realize I need more of it. I liken it to running. If I run a half-mile, I think of running one whole mile. If I run one mile my mind goes to running two. If I think of running and hope that somehow I will gain something but sit on my proverbial duff, I gain nothing. Like prayer, unless I fix my mind on God and desire to communicate with Him, I gain nothing. I must do. I must act.
But, what if there were a way that I could gain the benefits of running 2 miles but only running one? This calls to mind the phrase "cheap grace" a phrase coined by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his 1937 work, "The Cost of Discipleship".
Bonhoeffer contrasted cheap grace and costly grace:
"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."
"Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him."
Now, back to the gambling concept, in Revelation 4:9-11 we read that when we give glory and honor and thanks to God, 24 elders fall down before the One who sits on the throne and they worship Him. In this respect, our prayers are parlayed to those surrounding God, who are giving Him glory, honor, and thanks. Our prayers have an effect well beyond our dialog with God. We can affect heavenly creatures.
The twenty-four elders are believed to represent two groups of twelve: the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles. I suspect they would, in fact, be near the throne.
"Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: “Worthy are you, Lord, our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created." (Rev 4:9-11)
What has been revealed to John, the author of Revelation, is that our poor prayers and our deep, rich, and intimate prayers are multiplied for the glory of God. Glory. Honor. Thanksgiving. God deserves all of these, and by way of our prayers, we are in unison with those in Heaven who worship God. We are not alone in our prayers. When you pray, try to picture the actions that our prayers cause for God's glory. It's no gamble!
Peace to you,
John
John
