Year of the Bible: Part Eleven of TwelveSample

The Responsibility of Every Believer

The early church was not perfect; James made this clear as he reminded the church about their responsibilities to God and one another.

James gave four encouragements to the believing community:

• To not be greedy—prioritizing possessions over people—but instead, to care for those who had needs and, in so doing, magnify Christ’s name.
• To patiently work together for the fruitfulness found in the collaborative efforts of the Church community. This behavior set an example to those who looked on at their progress.
• To speak the truth to one another.
• Finally, to recognize that prayer that comes from sincere faith produces powerful results.

The most important part of prayer is the heart it comes from, not the title or position held by the person praying. Sometimes, we believe pastors, teachers, or formally educated ministers have a more special connection to God than "normal people." But this is not true! Every believer has the same responsibilities before God concerning their relationship with Him, prayer life, generosity, and community involvement.

Question: Do you ever think you need "the pastor" to pray for you instead of being able to pray for yourself or include a friend in your requests before God?

Prayer: Right now, thank God for giving you the authority of Jesus, which can be exercised in your prayer life and everywhere you go.