1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers, pray for us.… Pray for us — I. AS TEACHERS, that we may be taught of the Holy Spirit, and have more of the mind of Jesus; and that eschewing all false doctrine — the materialistic and the sensuous on the one side; and the rationalistic and the sceptical on the other — we may hold, and teach, and feel, the truth in all its proportions. II. AS PREACHERS AND EVANGELISTS, that we may never preach ourselves, but Christ only, in all His fulness, without limit: affectionately, earnestly, persuasively, lovingly, savingly: give true bread to our people: speaking as a dying man to dying men; as a redeemed soul to souls for whom Jesus died. III. AS MINISTERS OF HOLY SACRAMENTS, THE WORD, AND SERVICES OF THE CHURCH. That her beauty and grace may never be injured by us, and that we may do all holy things with a holy mind; and that God will so honour His own ordinance, that, even at our lips, His Word may go with the greater power; and when there shall be made a true confession, the assurance of absolving grace may reach comfortably even through us, to the yet unquiet conscience; and true sacrifices arise at our hands, from fervent and united hearts; and the whole Church "grow up into Him in all things which is the Head." IV. AS MEN, "Brethren, pray for us." Acknowledging and claiming, by that word, a common brotherhood, — lest, perhaps, they might think of him only in his official capacity. "Pray for us" as men, subject as much — if not more — to the same infirmities that you are; poor, ignorant men, that know nothing as they ought to know it; wanting guidance at every step, and sympathy, and the blood of Jesus to wash both their bodies and their souls. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Brethren, pray for us. |
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