James 5:12-20 ~ Pray, Pray, Pray and Save

The letter of James ends on a note of prayer. There is an emphasis of praying for the "sick". While some may interpret "sick" as physical illness, the original Greek translation tells us otherwise. "Sick" in verse 14 refers to astheneo i.e. "weak" while "sick" in verse 15 comes from kamno i.e. "weary". Seeing how astheneo is the negative form of the verb sthenoo ("to strengthen"), it is only appropriate to call the elders of the church to strengthen those who may be weak spiritually, in line with Paul's exhortation to those who are spiritual to restore those caught in transgression in a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1). This applies similarly to those who are "sick" or weary - kamno appears only one other time in the Bible in Hebrews 12:3 - an image of those who are weary from the suffering and persecutions they undergo (flowing on from the same thought in the earlier section of James 5). Just as how we are to pray for those who are "sick", similarly we should also endeavour to bring back a sinner from his wandering that his soul may be saved from death as he comes to accept Christ as His Saviour and Lord.

Have you been praying lately? What are you praying for? And what are you actively doing for those things that you've prayed for?