"I'll Pray for You" June 10, 2016

²³ Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you,
1 Samuel 12:23 ESV 

Seven Deadly Sins, the 10 Commandments, "shalls" and "shall nots".  Throughout the Bible there are some very clear mentions of sins, both specific and categorical.  But in Samuel's closing address he mentions a "sin against the LORD" which many of us would be guilty of committing.

When a friend is in a medical crisis, "I'll pray for you."  

A family member having to make a tough decision, "We'll keep you in our prayers."

That coworker who confides in you about his/her impending divorce, "You'll be in my prayers."

Maybe the promise is sincere.  If so, then the issue most likely gets 1-2 days on a prayer list soon to be replaced or forgotten.  Perhaps is is just a throw-away line because we don't know what else to say.

A "sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for (fill in the blank)".  Anything we do or fail to do that God has required of us is a sin.  If we commit to or are led to pray for a situation, group, or individual, but fail to follow through with those prayers, it is a sin.  If we tell a person we will pray for him, but don't- then we have sinned.  If we ignore the Holy Spirit's conviction to pray for a situation- we have sinned.  

I also find it revealing that Samuel places this transgression as a sin against God.  Sure all sin goes against God, but Samuel specifically identifies this a being against the LORD.  His concern was not what the Hebrews would think of him or how they would react to his lack of pray for their welfare.  It feels as if Samuel has elevated this particular sin to a level of direct affront to Yahweh.  If sin has a hierarchy, then invoking God's name in an effort to comfort or advocate then not following through is taking His name in vain, which as we all know is one of the Big Ten.

If our "I'll pray for you" is just a through away line, then let's find another line of comfort for that friend, coworker, or family member.  However if we choose to follow through on our promises of prayer, we might see God work in miraculous ways and our relationship with God and man grow.