Scripture… As We Live It #21
Here is the twenty-first installment of “Scripture… As We Live It“:
Pray without ceasing very often occasionally in church and at meals. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 re-mix)
the weblog of Alan Knox
Here is the twenty-first installment of “Scripture… As We Live It“:
Pray without ceasing very often occasionally in church and at meals. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 re-mix)
Excellent post but judging by modern Australia church and meal times is pushing things a bit!
How do we turn the tide to reignite conversation with God?
Wonderful thoughts on this Sunday. Thank you Alan for gettingus to think about how we live. Treuly live. I hope you have a great day brother!
Makes me think of Jesus teaching the disciples on the Lord’s prayer and ways we rewrite that as well. Not only do we limit prayer temporally, but we also limit prayer in so many other ways.
That whole praying over the meal thing – which I recognize we are called to do, just can’t remember the verse, in 1 Cor. I think, any who – it drives me when the blessing for the meal becomes the prayer for the time we spend together, thanksgiving for the nice day and the cool things we did…
Just thinking…
Lanny, don’t ever eat a meal with me, then. I have been accused of praying too long! hehe
One time, a comment was made by a fellow believer after I had prayed, and I said, “Oh, I’m very sorry. It’s just that he’s my dad, and I enjoy talking to him.” 😉
By the way, if you remember the verse, let me know. I’ve always seen it more as a tradition that we follow, not a scriptural command.
Les,
Maybe I need to re-mix this verse a little more? 🙂
You’ve asked a great question. To me, it begins by recognizing that God is always present and that we are always communicating with him, and, more importantly, he is always communicating with us.
Kinney (preacherman),
I’ve had a great day so far. This short posts start by me thinking about how I live. Its not always pretty.
Bryan,
Yes, exactly. That would be another good verse to re-mix. Did Jesus say, “Pray in this manner” or “Pray this exact prayer”?
Lanny,
I try to keep all of my public prayers short. I’m not always successful. I’m interested in that verse about praying over meals too. If you find it, please let us know.
Steve,
If you pray too long while you’re eating with me, I’ll probably start eating without you. I don’t think God will be distracted by my chewing noises. 🙂
-Alan
Alan and Lanny,
If I may interject, the scripture that came to my mind when I read the post and comments was in 1 Timothy 4. Maybe this helps?
1Ti 4:3 {men} who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
-Jeff
If 1 Tim 4:5 means that we should pray before each meal, then we also better start reading scripture before every meal, as well.
All this time, we’ve only been half-sanctifying our food 😉
Steve,
Actually…my grandparents did both prayer and reading the word (devotions) after every meal for as long as they were married. (75 years);) I don’t think this scripture is commanding prayer at meal time though. But, I can see how it could start a tradition (perhaps superstition?) of always needing to “say grace” at a meal.
-Jeff
Jeff,
Yes, I can see how someone would use that Scripture as an indicator that we should pray before meals. Thanks!
Steve,
I have a good friend who reads Scripture and prays before we eat with them. I don’t know if they always do this, or only when they have guests. I like this practice, because we often end up talking about the Scripture that he reads.
But, I agree that this passage doesn’t command reading Scripture or praying before a meal.
-Alan
Hi All
for what its worth, my take on the subject is that there is no specific instruction telling us we must give thanks before each meal. However, as a general point we do observe that Jesus tended to give thanks at the commencement of a meal acknowledging the provision from his heavenly father. I guess it is a case that we should periodically and appropriately all the things god provides for us day by day and which we so easily take for granted.