Pop-Up Verses and Prayer

Last post, I talked about how God can reveal things in the Bible that previously went unnoticed. When this happens, it’s almost like the verse jumps out at you like a page in a pop-up book saying, “Look! Right here! Look at me!” So here’s an example of one such “pop-up verse” from my own life.

I was reading in 2 Corinthians 1 one day. Verses 3-7 in this chapter make up one of my favorite passages of Scripture. They identify God as the God of comfort and explain the purpose behind our receiving comfort from him, namely that we can in turn comfort others. But this time as I was reading the chapter, verse 11 jumped out at me:

“You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”  (ESV)

I’d never really noticed this verse before, but as I read it and reread it that day, I realized just how much meat is really there. The context is Paul telling the Corinthians how he and Timothy had reached the end of their own strength and were learning to fully rely on the power of God to sustain them (vv.8-9).  In the preceding verse, he expresses his complete confidence in God to continue to provide deliverance (v. 10). Then he writes,

“You also must help us by prayer…”

At first glance, this might seem disingenuous of Paul; if he really believes God will deliver them, why ask for prayer?  Why must the Corinthian believers also pray if God will already sustain and provide?

“…so that many will give thanks on our behalf…”

I love those two little words: so that. Whenever we see them in Scripture, we know that whatever follows is an explicit answer to the question “why.” And this verse is no exception. Why does Paul want the Corinthians to pray? So that many people will give thanks to God. In other words, the more people who are praying, the more people will be praising God when He responds. So with that one little phrase “so that” we see the motivation behind the request: for God to receive more glory.

But what are the people giving thanks for?

“…for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

Paul knows that as his fellow believers pray, God will hear and will bless him and Timothy. Yet he is clear that this blessing will come “through the prayers of many.” Paul speaks of the power of prayer here, for even though he is thoroughly confident in God’s deliverance, he knows that there is still blessing that God will provide when His people pray.

So from this one verse, we can see that prayer is important, that it makes a difference, and that one result of prayer is God being glorified. Which when you think about it, is the best result of all.

Have you had a specific verse “jump out” at you during your time with the Lord? I’d love to hear what He’s teaching you!