Short articles of the, "Yes Jesus" Book on prayer. # 27

 

Prayer as the only way to love others

 

We loosely use the words, “I love you.”

 

The healthy questions to ask of us are, “How do I know that I love this person?” Is my definition of love for others what I feel every time I see them or am with that person? Is it what we call ‘chemistry,’ the sense of being drawn to them because I feel good or happy when I am with that person?”

 

The simple criterion of truth, for whether I love that person or not, is prayer.

“Do I pray for that person? If so, why?”

 

If the answer is “it is my duty,” then as unromantic as it may sound, that answer is closer to the truth than any other answer.

 

It is the duty of the hand to protect the face from an incoming slap or fist.

It is for the hands own good to defend the face or head of which the hand is a member.

 

The hand prays for the face by defending it.

What we are saying is that ‘self-love’ is involved in prayer as care of self.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

We can safely conclude that we do not love anyone unless we love that person as we love ourselves.

 

The lack of love from the hand to the face will bring pain to the face as well as the hand. The lack of prayer for our neighbor will eventually hurt us by virtue of the fact that we are members of one body. If you love others then you must pray as for yourself.

 

Our Heavenly Father loves us and redeems us because if he loses us it would hurt his own dear, loving heart.

This is the teaching elder on duty in matters of Prayer.

Gerry Gutierrez.