Motive -- Thoughts on Prayer

You do not have because you do not ask God.  

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives….

James 4:2-3

          I think God wants His people at their best in all things.

          Take our bodies.  Does God want us ill and lame and used-up prematurely?  In itself, no.  So I think.  I  would not want people thus.  God is as well-wishing as I am, I judge.  If I could, I would make people well.  Had I the power I certainly would do this, and so would all, I am sure.  But, if I had divine wisdom as well as power I would do just as God does.

          There is something better than bodily health.  The headache and back-ache are not worst things.  Character is better than health, and sin is worse than physical pain.

          It is quite evident that the only way God can save the most of us is to let us have physical ills.  Not that He chooses the ills for us, but chooses what those are the means of securing to us, or in keeping from us of evil.

But, my contention is that with a right motive we might be differently circumstanced in just these particulars.

          In one of my charges as a pastor was a young woman of slender frame and precarious health.  She was a wife and mother who had her home to keep and its interests for which to care.  One day, climbing the chamber stairs, she rested half-way up, as she was wont to do.  While sitting on the stair-tread she said: “Oh God I am Thy child.  I love Thee.  I am in Thy service.  Thou canst give me a good and sound body.  Lord, if Thou wilt do this, I will give the added strength to Thee.  I will put no more into home-cares and personal interests, but will expend the new energy in Thy service.”

          Hardly were these words uttered—if uttered they were—when God healed her!  She jumped to her feet, ran up the stairs like a girl and has been a well woman ever since—for years.  And she kept her covenant with God, and is keeping it now.  I know her well.

          Motive!  Motive is vital!  “Ye ask and receive not … that ye may consume it upon your lusts,” upon your own personal gratification.

--Rev. Charles Fowler, 1912

NO LONGER BLIND! (3)

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”  John 1:4

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

In my last devotional I asked:

Why do both John the baptist and Jesus see a relationship between LIFE and LIGHT?

“All life originates and develops under the influence of …light…”  according to Goethe.  The connection between life and light has been observed for centuries, but in this last century, the experiments of John Ott made real breakthroughs.  He discovered that healthy plant and animal development only occurs under full-spectrum light – what we also know as natural light – that which comes from the sun.  So true light leads to life.

I have been asking the question: How does the life in Jesus become light for mankind?  Maybe I was just thinking of “light” in too narrow of terms.  Light is not just what enlightens and leads mankind, it is actually what gives all life and health to mankind. 

Voilá!

Jesus is the LIGHT of the world.

The true light.  The full-spectrum light.  The only light that is life-giving.

Other interesting quotes:

“All the energy we take into our bodies is derived from the sun,” – Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

“…light is the primal nourishment for life.”  - Jacob Liberman

“The body is a biological light receptor, the eyes are transparent biological windows designed to receive and emit light, and all physiological functions are light dependent. … Light guides the eyes, physical movement and physiological function, hence light and life are inseparable, …”– Jacob Liberman

“My studies have indicated that light is a nutrient, similar to all the other nutrients we take in through food, and that we need the full spectrum range of natural daylight.” – John Ott

"If human skin is not exposed to solar radiation (direct or scattered) for long periods of time, disturbances will occur in the physiological equilibrium of the human system. The result will be functional disorders of the nervous system and a vitamin-D deficiency, a weakening of the body's defenses, and an aggravation of chronic diseases."  - from a 1967 paper presented by three Russian scientists to the International Committee on Illumination

“…when we experimentally place plants, animals, or humans in a darkened environment and notice that their life force gradually diminishes, bringing life to a halt.  Without light there is no will to live, we are robbed of the spark that propels our spirit…” – Jacob Liberman