Tuesday’s Devotion: Don’t Forward this to Ten People

Daniel 4:34-35  “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven. My reason returned to me, and I praised the Most High. I worshipped and glorified the one who lives forever because his rule is everlasting; his kingdom is for all time.  All of earth’s inhabitants are nothing in comparison. The Most High does whatever he wants with the heaven’s forces and with earth’s inhabitants. No one can contain his power or say to him, ‘What do you think you are doing?’”

 Recently I received an email informing me that one of my twenty angels was reading that message; God has seen me struggling with something but that it’s over. Blessing is coming my way.  It continued, “If you believe in God, send this message on, please don’t ignore it, you are being tested. God is going to fix two BIG things tonight in your favor. If you believe in God, drop everything and pass it on. Tomorrow will be the best day ever. Send this to ten friends, including me, if I don't get it back, I guess I 'm not one of them. As soon as you get five replies, someone you love will quietly surprise you.”

For goodness sakes this is terrible theology!  Think about it – we can’t manipulate God.  We can’t cause God to act in a certain way by sending an e-mail or praying some particular prayer or adding “in Jesus’ name” on the end of a prayer.  Praying in Jesus’ name admits the authority our life in Christ gives us to approach God’s throne and our desire to pray according to God’s will.  It isn’t a magical incantation.  The audacity of the theology in these e-mails is amazing or just perhaps it’s simply unthinking by well-meaning persons.  We do well to hit “Delete” and then send a personal message to someone saying you are thinking of them and hope all is well – that if they have a prayer request you would love to pray for them.  Still in his greater wisdom, God will answer as God wills, in God’s time.

Holy God, none can truly know your mind. You do as you will. Yet in your mercy you hear our prayers. Grant us your peace and lead us in your ways.  Amen.