This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
"And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers." Genesis 47:3.
This is an interesting question that Pharaoh asked Jacob's sons. It's interesting because it seems like such a mundane question and yet it's recorded in the Bible. Furthermore, it is noted that shepherds were an "abomination unto the Egyptians" (Genesis 46:34). Just two simple comments if I may. First, the role of a shepherd is actually highly regarded in the Scriptures. Notably, in Psalm 23:1 the Psalmist declares, "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." And of course, Jesus during His earthly ministry announced, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). It is often the case that the things pertaining to the kingdom will seem foolish to the children of this world. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). Pastors, take no heed to the fact that the world despises the office of shepherds.
The second thought is simply this. Think about that question, "What is your occupation?" When we ask that question, what are we really asking? What do we do? What are we? What defines us? Ask yourself that question, friend. This is not simply about your day job either. You may stock grocery shelves as your day job, but does that really define who you are? Throughout the Old Testament, the Bible records for us the lives of many kings that lived many years and that did many things. But usually, we find their entire life summed up in just a few words. Either they "sought the Lord" or they did not. It's their epitaph. If you had to sum up your life in a few words, how would you like to be remembered? I can think of no more beautiful epitaph than what is inscribed on the memorial tablet of Jeremiah Lanphier, founder of the Fulton Street prayer meeting:
“A DEVOUT MAN, AND ONE THAT FEARED GOD,
WHICH GAVE MUCH ALMS TO THE PEOPLE
AND PRAYED TO GOD ALWAY.”
“THY PRAYERS AND THINE ALMS ARE COME UP
FOR A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD.”
IN THIS CHURCH, WITHIN WHOSE SACRED PRECINCTS
HE WORSHIPPED THROUGHOUT HIS LATER YEARS,
HIS FRIENDS HAVE REVERENTLY PLACED THIS TABLET,
SO THAT THE POWER OF A LIFE
GIVEN “CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER”
MAY BE SILENTLY PROCLAIMED
TO SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS.
So, what is your occupation? Whatever it is that we find ourselves doing to pay the bills, let us in the end be remembered as devout men and women, "that feared God, which gave much alms to the people and prayed to God alway."
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
Mon-Fri @ 12pm EDT // Sat @ 10am EDT
We invite you to join our dedicated and earnest group of praying participants of all ages from around the world that meet every day over Zoom to pray. At the start of each prayer call, a different individual will bring a brief Scriptural meditation. Here's the most recent:
