If at a Christian gathering I asked the question, “Are there some here who have a need we should pray for?”  It will be almost 100% certain that the prayer requests brought before us would be of a physical nature, of this and that sickness in the body.  Now, I shouldn´t belittle that as we are encouraged to bring before the Throne our requests in everything!   (Phil. 4:6).  And we rejoice when we hear about the mercies of God in restoring sick bodies.

However, our need above all needs at this juncture is a spiritual one.  At least this is my need.  It was the need of the apostle Paul also, I believe.  “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart…”  (Rom. 9:2).  What weighs him down?  His physical infirmities?  No, he shares with us his burden for the salvation of “my brethren”, so precious to him but lost.  “My heart´s desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved!”  (Rom. 10:1)

This is my grief too, - the more people I talk to, the more I´m conscious of that “continual grief”.  This would be my prayer request too, if at a meeting I was asked to raise my hand about a need to be prayed for. I´m sure you know of that grief yourself.

“Passion for Souls” was the title of a passionate book once written by the Canadian prince of missions, Oswald J. Smith  (1889-1986) from Toronto.  Oh, may we be caught by that holy passion.  Søren Kierkegaard once said, “I don´t complain that our time is sinful.  It´s miserable, it´s without passion!”  Christians without passion are a contradiction  -  a parody or misbegotten case.  Passion for souls should be our hallmark.

August 8, 2012 – jn