Sabbath Sanctuary God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 6

Day 6 Luke Chapter 6

“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God” (v. 12 NASB).

There are so many wonderful things in Luke’s sixth chapter on which to write: the beatitudes, healing a leper on the sabbath, and foundations built on the rock. This theme of prayer, however, arrests me once again. Two chapters in succession make the effort to note Jesus’ prayer life. Scripture once again exhorts us with Jesus, the Son of God, as our teacher on the importance of prayer. 

Prayer should not be some rote, liturgical recitation; though there is nothing wrong with liturgical prayer, I have found some of the richest prose in prayers of liturgy. Prayer, though, is meant to be so much more. E.M. Bounds’ words on true prayer are enlightening:

“Prayer as a mere habit, a performance, or a routine, is a dead and rotten thing. True praying engages and sets on fire every high element of the Christian’s being. Prayer is born out of vital oneness with Christ in the fullness of the Holy Ghost. It springs from the deep, overflowing fountains of tender compassion and concern for humanity’s eternal good. True prayer is a consuming zeal for the glory of God; it involves a thorough conviction of the difficult and delicate work of the ministry and the imperative need of God’s help. Praying grounded on these solemn and profound convictions is the only true praying. And only ministry backed by such praying sows the seeds of eternal life in human hearts and builds others up for heaven. Ministry today may be popular, pleasant, attractive, intellectual, intriguing, and successful with little or no prayer. But the ministry which accomplishes God’s purposes must be born of prayer from beginning to end.”[1]

Bounds’ words on prayer are indeed eloquent and true, but as many have learned, prayer does not always feel like this. Many times, it is rote and awkward, but we should seek it nonetheless. Prayer is vital in our communication with God, even when it seems just too hard to find the words to speak before the Creator of the universe. 

Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. The Scripture says that at daybreak, He chose His twelve disciples. The decision was not made lightly; it was made in all-night prayer. Though He spent that night cloaked in prayer, one of the disciples He chose became a traitor. This illustrates that even betrayers may be allowed in your life to sharpen you, to drive you to your knees—or to a cross.

While on earth, He prayed all night; now He prays eternally in heaven on your behalf:

“In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior” {Heb. 5:7 NASB}.

“Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” {Heb. 7:25 NASB}.

In the Tabernacle and the Temple, the Altar of Incense is a type for prayer and intercession. When the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, he placed incense on the altar on behalf of the nation. Jesus, our beloved Savior, our blessed High Priest, offers prayers for us to the Father. 

This Advent season may not be a joyful occasion for many. The holidays can be a dark, lonely time for more people than we care to acknowledge. Let this time of rush and busyness and losing our breath in the day-to-day hustle of preparing for the holidays not give precedence to slowing down, taking a breath, and praying so that we, instead, prepare for Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Penelope J. Stokes, ed., E.M. Bounds: Power Through Prayer (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1989), 40-41.