The Church’s Offensive Linemen

“…strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe…” — Romans 15:30-31

Paul was dependent on people praying for him (2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:18-19; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1).

The words “strive together“ suggest work (cf. Col. 4:12).  Our praying must not be a casual experience that has no heart or earnestness.  Paul uses the same word “striving” to depict an athlete training for the Olympics (1 Cor. 9:24-25). We should put as much fervor into our praying as an athlete puts into striving to win a competition.

Football in the last decade has made the discovery that a position once taken for granted is one of the most important in the team. Salaries have risen and they are drafted in higher rounds. Offensive linemen. To watch a highlight is to see a quarter back throw, a receiver catch, a running back score and rarely you focus on the lineman. But without his work the highlight won’t happen.  The church’s “prayer warriors” are the offensive linemen that help make the work of a preacher effective in scoring a touchdown for “Team Jesus.”

Pray for your Pastor!