Why Do We Struggle to Pray?

March 13, 2025

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NASB95)

How would your life change if you prayed without ceasing?  How would your family’s life change?  If you prayed without ceasing, how would it impact your brothers and sisters in Christ?  How would your prayers impact the world? 

We all know that prayer is vital to a healthy relationship with God, and I’m sure that we all would like to be more devoted to it, and yet we often fall short of the prayer life we desire.  Why do we sometimes struggle to pray?  Perhaps it is because we have some doubts about the effectiveness of prayer.  It may be that you prayed your heart out over something or someone in the past, and you didn’t see that it made a difference.  Perhaps it is because we don’t feel like we’re “doing” anything when we pray and that our time would be better spent with other pursuits.  Perhaps it is because we feel that we are saying the same thing over and over again to God.  Let’s briefly examine some of these difficulties.

If prayer is powerful, why is it that sometimes our prayers seem to have no effect?  The truth is that our prayers may have had profound effects that we cannot immediately see.  We will not always know the impact our prayers had on the heart of a person.  We will not always know how our prayers impacted a situation.  Some of these things we may not see until we are on the other side of eternity.  Ask yourself this: How would the situation have turned out if you had not prayed?  We will never know the answer to that question with certainty.  We often pray for people to change their hearts or actions, or to come to know the Lord (and these are wonderful prayers!).  When praying for people, we must remember that God will never override someone’s free will and force them to change their ways.  But we can always pray that God will soften their hearts or provide opportunities for the truth to reach them.

What about the feeling that our time would be better spent “doing” rather than “praying?” It is true that there is a time for prayer and a time for action, but let’s remember that prayer is a great source of power behind our actions.  Our Lord knew this to be true.  He was always very busy teaching, preaching, and healing, yet He always prioritized prayer.  He even prioritized prayer over sleep as He would rise very early in the morning to pray, or even pray all night long.  It is clear that Jesus saw prayer as an absolute essential part of His life and ministry.  How much more do we need to rely upon it?

Finally, what about this feeling that you are saying the same things over and over to God?  First of all, let’s realize that this is not a bad thing at all, as long as those prayers are sincere.  There are many things that we need to say to God every single day, and they can be said in a heartfelt way.  Let me also suggest a practice that has been helpful to me over the years: praying the scriptures.  What I mean by that is to merge your Bible study with your prayers.  When you hear the word of God, pray about the things you have heard.  Let the words of scripture sink into your heart, and speak to God about what He has said, asking Him to help you live out His words.  In this way you will have an inexhaustible treasury of things to speak to the Lord about that come right from the scriptures. 

Let us always pray!  God works powerfully through prayer!

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

The Work of Elders

March 11, 2025

We tend to use the word “elders” in referring to our congregation’s leaders. This term (presbuteros in Greek) was used in both Jewish and Gentile environments for religious and civic leaders in the ancient world. Jack P. Lewis notes, “The term ‘elder’ suggests a leadership built on respect and reverence (cf. Lev. 19:32), a reverence that recognizes ability, service, knowledge, example, and seniority.”1

The New Testament uses “elders” interchangeably with two other words: overseer (episkopos) and shepherd (poimēn). Bishop is another word used in English for overseer. Unfortunately, it now has some historical baggage and has come to mean something different from its New Testament usage. Pastor comes into English from Latin and is simply a word meaning shepherd. The nouns “overseer” and “shepherd” also have corresponding verbs that are used in leadership contexts: to oversee (episkopeo) and to shepherd (poimainō).2 The following New Testament passages confirm the idea that these words were used interchangeably to refer to the same group of leaders within the congregation: Acts 20:17, 28, Titus 1:5-7, and 1 Peter 5:1-2.

Oversight. So what do elders do? Both the words “overseers” and “elders” suggest oversight, leadership, and decision making. In 1Timothy 5:17, Paul notes elders “who rule well” (ESV). The Greek verb in this verse (proistēmi) can be defined as “to exercise a position of leadership, rule, direct, be at the head (of).”3 The same verb is used in 1 Timothy 3:5 to speak of a elders’s leadership in his family.

Teaching. One of the qualifications of overseers in 1 Timothy 3 is “able to teach” (3:2). Some may “especially” give attention to “preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). “Especially” lets us know that the work goes beyond these things, but may include them. In the qualifications given in Titus, there is the need “to give instruction” (Titus 1:9). And shepherds are linked with others in Ephesians 4:11 as equipping the saints for service.

Guarding. The word “overseers” includes the idea of guardians. The image of shepherds also includes the thought of guardians of a flock of sheep. Paul warns the Ephesian elders of dangers coming to the church and urges them to “pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock” and “be alert” (Acts 20:28, 31).

Shepherding. Shepherd is a very personal image. The figure of speech evokes the role of shepherd with his sheep: feeding, protecting, caring for wounds, and searching for the lost sheep.

And finally, we note that elders are “examples to the flock,” the church (1 Peter 5:3).

–Russ Holden

____________________

1Lewis, Leadership Questions, p. 21

2I’ve given the first person singular form rather than the infinitive, because it is the dictionary form.

3BDAG, p. 870

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Posted by Russell Holden

Having a Sober Mind

March 11, 2025

The New Testament speaks often of the need to be “sober.”  Being sober certainly means that Christians should never be intoxicated by alcohol or other substances, but the word goes beyond prohibiting physical drunkenness.  Being sober is to be free from mental and spiritual intoxication.  It is to be self-controlled and to avoid the passions and lusts that will cloud our minds and souls.

There are many things in this world that can cause spiritual intoxication.  And just as with physical intoxication, those who are spiritually intoxicated make bad choices, can’t see the consequences of their actions, and are unresponsive to any help or correction.  Those who are spiritually intoxicated can have a false sense that everything is great, when in reality they may be in very serious danger.  What can cause spiritual drunkenness?  Following our own sinful lusts and pleasures will certainly do it.  But pursuing anything (even if it is not inherently sinful) in an excessive, uncontrolled manner can make us numb to spiritual realities and keep us from seeing spiritual dangers. Career, money, pleasure, and entertainment have always been potential sources of intoxication.  And in our day, we have the added threats of our devices and social media.  While not wrong to use in and of themselves, it is easy to see how these things can dull our spiritual senses. 

What do the scriptures say about sobriety?  Why is it so important?  Let’s look at a couple uses of this word.  Peter writes, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (1 Peter 4:7 NASB95) We must be sober so that we will be people of prayer.  We are in a spiritual battle, and we need to be alert and aware so that we can see spiritual needs and pray for ourselves and others.  Peter again says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) A lack of sobriety will cause us to be unaware of the spiritual dangers that surround us.  Those who are not keeping themselves sober may not hear the lion’s roar, and they can easily be devoured.  But those who are sober can see the dangers, and they have the spiritual presence of mind to take quick, sensible action.

Let us heed the Lord’s warnings and be sober in mind and spirit.    

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

What Happens to a Christian when They Die?

January 22, 2025

What will happen to us when we die?  It’s an important question that many Christians are unsure about.  I myself have questions about death, the resurrection, the second coming, the judgment, what our eternal state will be like, and exactly how and when all of the scriptures on these topics will be fulfilled.  Despite these questions, one thing I have become convicted of is this:  When a Christian dies, they will go to be with the Lord.  Our bodies will be in the ground until the return of Christ, but our souls will go to be with Jesus.  Let’s examine some scriptures about this.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 NASB95) Here we see that those who have died as Christians will be coming with Jesus at His return.  This strongly implies that they have been with Jesus since their death.  Paul goes on to say that Christians who are alive when Jesus returns will be caught up together with those who have died, and we will meet the Lord in the air (verse 17).

In another passage, we learn what Paul expected to happen when he died.  Listen to his words, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better…” (Philippians 1:21–23 NASB95) Paul wrote these words as a prisoner.  He didn’t know whether he would live or die. But he saw death as “gain.”  Why?  Because he knew that when he died, he would be with Christ. Being with Christ was something he expected and was longing for.

Yet another verse that shows us that Christians go to be with the Lord when they die is found in the fifth chapter of 2 Corinthians.  As Paul encourages the saints he says, “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NASB95) For the Christian, being absent from the body means being at home with the Lord.  When we die, our bodies will return to dust, but our soul will be with Jesus.  It seems that we will continue in this state until the last trumpet sounds at the return of Christ.  At that time, our bodies will be raised, and they will be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, from perishable to imperishable (see 1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

We have so much to look forward to!  Are you ready to be with Jesus?  Let’s remain faithful to Him, and look forward to being with Him forever.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

Letting the Word Work in You (and Your Family)

January 22, 2025

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB95)

The word of God is alive and powerful.  In the above verse, we see that the word of God will go to work in anyone who: 1) receives the word, 2) accepts it as the words of God and not man, and 3) believes the word.  What exactly will the word of God do within us?  It will transform us.  It will enlighten us.  It will strengthen us.  It will comfort us.  What blessings await us if we will diligently take the word of God into our hearts and unite it with faith!

Given all of this, isn’t it true that there is nothing more important for us to do than to infuse the word of God into our home life?  Won’t the word of God work powerfully within our spouses and children?  Won’t it bring blessings to our families? Won’t it set our children onto the best path in life?

I want to encourage you to spend time in the word with your family.  One of the best and simplest ways to do this is to listen to the word together.  This is something that my own family has started to do in a more systematic way.  We gather in the living room after dinner for 15-20 minutes (most evenings) and listen to the word via a Bible app.  We do have a goal of reading through the Bible this year, but that is not the main goal. Our main goal is this: to fill our minds with God’s word on a regular basis so that He can work in us. 

We hope to make this a lasting family tradition.  I encourage you to start a similar tradition with your family, if you haven’t already. I know it will be time well spent, and it will create fond memories for everyone.  I believe your children will enjoy it, and you will enjoy hearing their questions about God.  You can and should tailor this to your own needs:  perhaps you want to take turns reading aloud instead of using an app; perhaps your children would benefit from shorter or longer readings; perhaps you would like to start with the New Testament only.  Do what will work best for your family.  If you miss some evenings here and there, don’t fret about it.  Don’t give up.  The goal is not sticking exactly to the schedule, but to be in the word regularly, together.                   

May God bless us and work in us as we take in His holy word.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

Encountering God in the New Year

January 9, 2025

I would like to encourage each of us to be Bible readers in 2025.  In a world where there are always things eagerly competing for our attention (many of them good things), it is important to commit ourselves to hearing the voice of God clearly and often.  There is nothing more important that we could do.

The word of God is eternal.  “Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:7-8 NAS95)   When we pick up the word of God, we hold the eternal in our hands.  When we read the word of God and reflect on it, we fill our minds and hearts with everlasting truth. 

The word of God is transformative. If we will give ourselves to hearing and heeding the word, it will change us (as God allows).  Sometimes it causes in us a radical, immediate change, and other times it molds and shapes us steadily over time as the words take root in our hearts. 

Don’t you want this in your life?  Is something holding you back from regular Bible reading?

Setting a reading schedule is a great idea, but don’t get overly focused on the schedule.  What I mean is, if you have determined to read every day, don’t get discouraged and quit if you miss a day (or a few of them).  Just start back up again.  Reading at a pace slower than we intended is infinitely better than not reading at all.  And don’t get discouraged if you come upon sections of scripture that you don’t understand right away.  You are reading the words of God—some things are going to be hard to understand.  Also, don’t be deterred from reading because you feel overwhelmed at the thought of reading the entire Bible.  If you struggle with this, why not determine to read the New Testament?  Or the Psalms?  Or one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month?  Or perhaps you could choose a book of the Bible and get into it very deeply by slowly meditating on every word.

And in all of our reading, allow me to encourage you to not see it as a checklist to accomplish each day.  It is much more than that.  It is an encounter with the Living God.  It is time spent in the heart of God.  It is building a relationship with Him.  Let me also encourage you, as you read, to ask the Lord to be your teacher.  Let us pray as David did, “Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.  Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:4-5 NAS95) May God lead each of us in His truth and teach us His ways.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

Growth in the New Year

January 1, 2025

My hope and prayer for all of you, and for myself, is that we will grow spiritually in the new year.  I pray that you will pursue spiritual growth with renewed focus and vigor, resulting in a rich, intimate communion with the Lord.  Spiritual growth is something that must be pursued—it doesn’t just happen on its own.  I want to encourage you to pursue an intentional program of growth in the year ahead. 

What might this look like?  First of all, we need to dedicate ourselves to being in the word of God.  Reading the Bible is not just reading any other book; it is actively taking in words of life that flow from the very mouth of God.  The word of God will change us!  It will transform us from the inside out, if we will allow it.  The word of God will bring light to our path and life to our souls.  I encourage you to begin (or begin again) a plan of reading and reflecting upon the word of God in your daily life in 2025.

Second, I encourage you to heed the words of the apostle Peter, who showed us how to grow.  “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence…” (2 Peter 1:5a NASB95) With this statement Peter begins what is sometimes called the ladder of spiritual growth.  It is a list of qualities all Christians should pursue.  Each quality builds on the previous one and leads us to growth.  But notice where the process begins.  It all starts with making every effort to supply moral excellence.  What is moral excellence?  It is an uncommon, excellent, virtuous character.  Moral excellence is doing what is right and good in every situation.  It is choosing to do what is right even in the “little things.” It is choosing to do what is right even when no one is watching.  If we commit ourselves to moral excellence, we will grow, but if we don’t, growth will be stopped in its tracks.  I encourage you to decide that in 2025 you will pursue what is excellent with all your heart.

Think of where the Lord will take us in the new year if we will seek Him and stay near to Him!  The future is very bright, no matter what challenges lie ahead.  May God grant that each of us will grow in our faith in 2025.   

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

You are Light in the Lord

January 1, 2025

When we came into Christ Jesus, each one of us was fundamentally changed.  We became new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) There are many ways in which this is true:  We were freed from sin, we died to the Law, we became a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, we were transferred out of darkness, we were made alive in Christ.  And to me, one of the most profound things that happened to us is this: we became light.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” (Ephesians 5:8 NASB95)

We were formerly darkness.  Sin darkened our inner being and controlled our thoughts and actions.  But that was before we came to Jesus, the light of the world.  Now that we have been enlightened by Him, we have taken part in His nature.  We have become light. 

This is the reality of who we are.  Now we must ask ourselves what we are going to do with this profound truth.  Paul is urging us to be what we are—to walk (live our lives) as children of Light. 

How does one do that?  Paul goes on to say, “… (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…” (Ephesians 5:9-11 NASB95) The fruit of the light is expressed in goodness, righteousness, and truth.  To walk as light, we must be about pursuing these qualities. This means we must live a life concerned for the welfare of others (goodness), we must pursue moral and holy behavior (righteousness), and we must relentlessly pursue what is true in a world filled with lies. 

What else must we do to walk as children of light?  We must stop participating in the darkness.  This world is full of darkness, and it is very easy to continue in it.  But now you are light in the Lord!  Don’t practice the things of darkness, but expose them.  Our new nature as light (if we will walk in it) will naturally do that as we light up the world around us with His light.  Some people will hate you for that, for darkness naturally hates the light. But others will see the light of the Lord emanating from you and move toward it.

You are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light!

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

When a Sinner Comes Home

January 1, 2025

In the parable of the prodigal son, can you relate to the feelings of the older brother?  Let us attempt to step inside the older brother’s head for a moment and hear the accusations he makes.  The older brother had served his father dutifully his whole life.  He never neglected one command of his father.  He did everything he was supposed to do.  In stark contrast, his younger brother insulted his father and devoured his wealth with wild living and prostitutes.  The younger brother made an absolute wreck of his life.  And when he finally came home, he was given a party!  The older son never got a party!  How is that right?  How is that fair?

If you can relate to the feelings of the older son, it may be time for a serious heart check.  I must confess that his complaints seemed valid to me at one time, and that’s a problem!  You see, when we sympathize with the older son’s feelings, our feelings are running entirely counter to the feelings of our Father!  Rather than standing with our Father, we find ourselves in league with the Pharisees and scribes who, when they saw the tax collectors and sinners coming to Jesus “began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (Luke 15:2 NASB95) But what were the feelings of the father when this sinner returned?  Pure joy!He ran to his wayward son and embraced him!  He celebrated!  This is the attitude of our Heavenly Father, and of our Lord Jesus when a sinner comes home.  So, why would we not feel the same?

Why, indeed.  Perhaps we need to ponder the grace of God again.  Perhaps we need to remind ourselves where He brought us from and where we could have been.  Perhaps we need to realign ourselves with the purpose of God and of Jesus Christ, who came not to the righteous, but to the spiritually sick—to sinners like you and me.  And when a sinner comes to Jesus, there is great joy in heaven.  If we’re not taking part in that joy, then we have lost the fundamental meaning of the gospel and have forgotten his marvelous mercy and grace that we ourselves have received. 

The Father rejoices when a sinner comes home.  May we always be ready to celebrate with Him!

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

The Purpose of Parables

December 3, 2024

Why did Jesus speak in parables?  This is a good question and one that the disciples of Jesus also pondered.  “The disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10 NASB95) Jesus’ answer is very interesting.  “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.  For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.’” (Matthew 13:11-12 NASB95)  Luke reports Jesus’ answer in this way: “…To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8:10 NASB95)

Most people think that Jesus spoke in parables in order to make things clearer for the listeners.  This is only part of the reason.  It is true that the parables help us, as disciples of Jesus, to more clearly understand and retain His teaching.  When we think about the parable of the sower, or the parable of the talents, or the parable of the prodigal son, we immediately remember the deep spiritual meaning that lies beneath the simple stories.

But there is another important reason that Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.  It wasn’t so that the message would be clarified but obscured!  Read the passages above again.  Jesus said that some have been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom, and some have not.  Therefore, He spoke in parables so that while seeing and hearing, they will not be able to understand.  This leads us to another important question:  To whom does God grant understanding, and from whom does He withhold it?  And why? 

There is a warning here from Jesus that we all need to heed today.  Jesus goes on in Luke 8 to say this: “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away.” (Luke 8:18 NASB95) Take care how you listen!  Some will encounter the word of God and care little about it.  They will hear the words of God, but they do not care to really listen carefully.  These will not progress any farther in their spiritual journey.  In fact, it is these who will go backwards spiritually, for whatever he thinks he has shall be taken away.  But to those who love the word of God, who want to know more, who want to apply it to their lives—to them God will grant more spiritual understanding.  They will move forward with God because they take care how they listen!  May each of us approach God today with a heart to hear His word.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

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