The Work of Prayer

I kinda embarrassed myself not too long ago by something I’d said/written. At the time the words were there with some unknown conviction for their saying, but they troubled me immediately afterwards.
In one sense their implication to me was odious, almost heretical, yet I sensed a forbidding at the thought of their removal. And though at the time to me they seemed indefensible, perhaps even indefensibly wrong to the faith to some leading astray, I felt compelled to let them stand.

“Make a deal with God”. I’d written and published. And such deal was to be made in private, and kept private. It is/was to be made in the closet and kept there. There was no setting of parameters nor perimeter (as to what might only be included or excluded), only that:

“Make it of anything at all. Meet him as at a table with whatever you think you need as in an exchange with Him.

But it has to be private.

Done in a closet only you have access to. And kept private by you. Only you know what you put up as in exchange for what you ask for. And as far as you know, only you know what you are asking for.

It has to be private, is all.”

My wonder of having gone too far in presumption by this recommendation troubled me. A deal…really? Like on a car lot…with God? As in “this is what I’m willing to put up or pay for such and such a thing I want and/or ask for”? Really? Where had such instruction come from? And there was no comfort from the scriptures even though we find Jacob in Gen 28:20 dealing in such a manner.

For me, once (as I thought) plainly seen, as I thought I plainly saw it, it was the most base way of interacting/relating to/communing with the God of all creation. Not only odious, but certainly far from any recommending. And certainly not from one such as myself, considered to myself as so sophisticated in matters spiritual and of such a trained and discerning palate. (Yes, I know a very foolish man)

Besides which, in having set no parameters, even intentionally noting “Make it of anything at all…” of “with whatever you think you need as in an exchange with Him.” what doors were left as open for in that asking/dealing? Any and all mega millions lottery seekers? A successful bank heist sought? Getting away with murder? Or worse?

Yeah, I felt as though I were embarrassing myself. (Not that that feeling is too particularly foreign to me) But worse, extending a most unGodly proposition that could lead astray. Stating a deal making scenario with the Sovereign of the universe (and all other barely known and unknown places of possibility)? How just plain and stupidly foolish!

But then I was brought to remember places I have been, a man I once knew of certain mind in perceptions and conceptions, and was reminded how low our God would reach to touch a one, grab a one, and rescue a one. Even bring a man to relate, in whatever measure of rightness the man is made able to enter, to Him.

Really…what are we doing if, or when, we believe we are preaching the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior, and preach the cross? Do we forget how nonsensical it may once have appeared, even to us? How even absurd in our exquisite understanding of how a god should or must be according to that exquisiteness we accorded our reason? The man very smart to himself always has a better god (at least in mind) than the one presented as true savior. And the religious man, no less. Yes, a man always holds to himself the better god than the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, till he be disabused (how strongly? God knows!) of that notion and see its utter folly. And this is always and alone the work of God through His son. That life giving spirit of all truth.

It surely was not lost on Paul, at all. (A both very smart and once religious man) “That the preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness…” which, if taken on the face of it might indicate a very narrow interpretation…but is it? To the response of “that only holds true for the perishing” and is therefore restricted to only those. But first…yet…who of us wasn’t…the once perishing?

We may confess (and rightly so) God revealed our peril and a coming to an end that could only be resolved in a deep cry to the God who has purposed the cross of Christ. But, do all men once hearing, immediately turn to the way? Did Saul? Do we imagine in his persecutions he never heard the story? We know he had heard of the name, understood of a faction, but do we then imagine of all else surrounding he was ignorant?

There is no compulsion to believe one way or another, but I am persuaded Saul had heard much of that man whose name he once hated and all the story about Him. And how that some he persecuted to prison and death were exalting just a man, even a man seen as contrary to all his own (Saul’s) very schooled excellence in Judaism. That He had come, died for the sins of man, and was risen.

But then, something happened. A man was changed by the God who does not.

As the pieces fell together before him in revelation, thence to a perfect sense to him in such measure he can be declared a true apostle, and this by revelation(s) given, he did not forget how once, even to himself (as he could then express as overall) that the preaching of the cross does (and may) seem at first folly. And no less that:

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Do I yet hold some persuasion that there be those of whom that hold, and are even purposed to yet hold Christ as folly to an unsavory end for God’s good purpose? Yes. But I only say this as a declaration of my present estate in understanding, which I have found is always up for rebuke, dissuasion, and correction. And I have no dominion over any man’s faith.

But I have found if I would seek any sincerity for my declaration of Jesus as Lord, there is no other stance available than God does as He wills. With, and to whom, what and how He wills. That he has chosen to save any becomes more and more a miracle (only such a God can or would do) to me than once ever considered. For I have seen by both my very best of reason and intimate acquaintance of the man who deserves nothing but wrath in the light of Christ’s righteousness…yet keeps finding mercy. It is enough!

In short, the more I see of man, the more a wonder salvation becomes…especially (and cannot be overstressed) in my own self. A once…nice story…is not merely spoken of as believed, but shows that peculiarity of necessity of which nothing less, truth must be. The necessity. For apart from truth showing itself (even Himself) of all necessity, it becomes painfully plain that nothing built, except upon it…is true. Or can last, persist, be ultimately manifest as the real, or reality. And our God is both the real, and true. And His work in and through our Christ (even His Christ) is both real and eternal. Coming from a place as seming before time, coming from a place not subject to time, coming from a place that is and always is apart from any being subject to anything but God’s good pleasure. Himself.

If we believe, and have even the merest knowledge or appreciation of the cross, a question becomes, in many ways, moot: “How far would God descend, humble Himself” or “to what lengths would He (Has He?) shown Himself willing to go…to reach?”

And it has now become for me, the far better to appear the fool, even utmost of all fools, than to think I might ascribe to any limit as “this God can do, but this He won’t”…when I see the cross of Christ. And may God forbid I (or any) set limit to the extent of His will to reach…and as even having already extended His arm in Christ, to reach.

The believer does indeed believe in things too marvelous for his self to believe, and too good to be true…while yet being true. And is that curious place he cannot explain; but of which he finds himself in oft occupation and consideration. That God might and would…even save such as he, as me.

Paul was not ignorant of that estate, either. A “yet not I” who lives that not merely allows, but in all purpose gave Himself for identification.

“…who loved me, and gave himself…for me”

Yes, this gospel is exquisitely personal on every level, even to such extent that in the man, it cannot be denied. Truth established in a man, even that it might be, becomes that marvel. A true foundation that never loses wonder, and invites all exploration for a soundness unshakeable and immovable, with further wonders to disclose.

But this was entitled “The Work of Prayer” and how far it appears to have wandered from both title and seeming intent.

But every ex-god knows there are labors of which he boasts to ascribe to his Lord only, and as, and to, His glory alone. And they take place in a place unseen and even forbidden to any and all who are among those forbidden. Yet such are real and known, as every ex-god knows. And only ex-gods are given such gift to know as gift of a new work, even their delightful maintenance of their self as “ex”. And of a worthy instrument shared for that work.

Among men the hoarding of griefs and sufferings for transaction is most common. They, not knowing, are bound by them and to them, as useful as they are for often trade in a land they cannot escape but by an intervention…the land of transaction. It is their treasury to be guarded and kept to and for themselves. The “what they have put in” in efforts and grief and endurance to tilt a balance in their favor.

Do not doubt they are most prized and kept. Even to all justification “I am this way…because…” Every insult imagined or real, every frustration of their being in ready recall to justify “their way”. That peculiar tilt toward “No one knows what I have to deal with…”
Sufferings and griefs locked up by, and to themselves. A veritable and supremely guarded treasury that speaks of their right to be. Hoarded.

Yet we have a Savior who gladly gives all of His away. He is as liberal in His sufferings as He is in His joy. Refusing any right to justify His being, He is. And He was willing to enter into this land, this place of all transactional relationship.

Without complaint.

A marvel indeed. His work.

Never doubt the work of this prayer of His work. As even availing right now for you, for us:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Now, that’s the “Work of Prayer”.

Do we feel it working?