Luke 9:18-22: Teach me to pray.Please click here for todays passage.

In Eugene Peterson’s book, ‘The pastor’, he tells a story about how one day, after being in the ministry for a number of years, a lady from his congregation came to him and said, ‘Please will you teach me to pray.’ He saw clearly that this work of spiritual direction lay at the heart of what he was called to do, yet it was the first time anyone had asked for such help.

Peterson also tells how early on in his ministry he was advised to read the writings of a certain author, who was regarded at the time to be the leading authority on pastoral work. He devoured his books, but after a while began to sense that something was wrong. Then it hit him – in all the volumes he had read there was not a single reference to prayer. How can you be a pastor who does not pray?

Today’s reading opens with something of an anomaly: ‘’Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him.’’ (18a, ESV). He was praying alone, yet in company. That got me thinking. As a spiritual leader, somehow, without parading your spirituality, you have to let people into your prayer life. The disciples saw enough of Jesus at prayer to want His help and guidance with their own devotions (see Luke 11:1, and the context: Luke 10:38-42). As a pastor, a chief way you will fulfil your vocation (if not the chief way) will be alone, on your knees. But ‘’the disciples’’ will always be with you – in your heart. Like the high priest in the Old Testament, you will carry the names of the ‘’tribes’’ on your ‘’breastplate’’. But there are other ways too in which they will need to be with you; to be invited to join you in the life of prayer. William Still counselled young pastors along these lines: ‘When you go to serve a church, announce that you will be praying at a certain time and place. Don’t say you will pray if anyone comes. Say you will be there praying, and invite people to join you. Be there, and pray regardless of who shows up.’

There always have been divergent viewpoints regarding who Jesus is (18b, 19), but this is the most important question you will ever face (20). Who is Jesus? What do you say? The Person and Work of Christ are closely bound together – His divinity and His death/resurrection. And this Jesus who is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, was a Man of prayer. (He was also a Man of the Word. He knew from the Scriptures that there was a ‘’must’’ about His rejection and crucifixion and resurrection.)

There is something about prayer that is vital to Christian ministry, and Jesus is still setting the example to contemporary disciples, for we still see and hear Him at prayer in the gospel records. Furthermore, Jesus is interceding for us in heaven right now. Someone observed, ‘You’re on Jesus’ prayer list. That ought to make your whole day.’

My response to all of this: ‘Lord, teach me to pray!’