Spiritual Adultery
James 4:4-5
Thomas Manton said, “When we make self the end of prayer, it is not worship of God, but self-seeking. It is not enough to make God the object of the prayer, but the end also.” Am I praying for health just so that I may live pleasantly without suffering? Are we praying for the job just so that we may be spared the worry of unemployment? Do we want our families to be blessed merely so we may exalt our name in the earth? (Luke 12:13, 15) Such is spiritual adultery. Attempting to bridge a friendship with this world and with Christ is an attempt to reconcile two of the most irreconcilable things that exist. Friendship of the world is enmity with God (Matthew 7:24). I can think of no greater example of true prayer than what our Master said in the midst of soul agony, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour." Here is the cause for his hour of suffering, and for ours, brethren, and here is true prayer, "Father, glorify thy name" (John 12:27-28) Believer, Christ Jesus is able to give the Holy Spirit to comfort you even in the midst of your utter weakness without removing the thorn (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake, do we desire to merely be delivered or is it our prayer for the power of Christ to be glorified?