James 5:14

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord ~ James 5:14

 

The sickness here is not specified as a bodily sickness, or as a heart sickness, for either one, together or alone, afflict us deeply. The idea here is the general subject of sickness, for it so often occurs in all of us. The direction James is calling upon us is for others to pray for us. This is simply because when we are sick and not feeling well, it is difficult to focus our minds and hearts on prayer other than the trial we are currently in. I find it difficult, and perhaps you do too, to pray with a clear mind when my body or my mind is in agony. Sometimes I want to just huddle down within myself, and this is what the apostle is calling us to not do. He is saying that we should actually call the elders, that is, they should send for them. I find this is not something we do much of these days, whether we in the midst of a pandemic or not. I wonder why that is. As a pastor, and as the elders or deacons of a church, we cannot know when someone is sick unless we are told. When people are sick, they should let their pastor and their elders know, so that our prayers, or our visits can uphold them in their time of need. There is no place more important than being beside someone who is not well. Just to know that we are not alone in our sickness is a great comfort, to know that prayers are going up on our behalf brings calm and hope. We are not meant to be alone in our grief, our sickness, our trials, for this reason we are a body to encourage and uphold. And if we cannot trust our elders and pastor to come to our aid in times of sickness, we are losing out indeed, for I do not know of any leader or pastor that will not willingly and gladly go to pray for someone in need. It is in the name of the Lord we come and pray; it is in the name of the Lord we anoint and uphold, it is only in the name of the Lord that healing can take place.

Pastor Julia


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