Anna

[irishman]

In the Book of Luke, we find one Anna, who "departed not from the temple" but stayed there and prayed and fasted "night and day." Yes, the Bible says she "served God":

Luk 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Luk 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

No doubt she was criticized for not going soul winning! She did not seem to teach Sunday School, or to work on a bus route. She simply prayed, and fasted so that those who did do the works in the church would prosper in it! When others looked at her, well into her nineties, they must have thought "why does she hang around all the time, she doesn't do anything"--Anna got "honorable mention" in the Word of God even though she didn't sing in the choir, or usher, or baby sit, or any of that, she just prayed. I wonder how many "Anna's" we have in our churches, that are often thought to be lazy and uncaring because they are not "involved"? They may be women, or men, but they believe in the power of prayer.

Perhaps she did more for soul winning than a multitude of people who go out door-to-door.

[Salyan]

Irishman, I get your point about Anna, but wouldn't it be stronger if you didn't compare her to a list of tasks that didn't exist in the temple?

[John81]

Over the years our pastor often points out the "behind the scenes" work many elderly and seriously ill perform with their prayers, and sometimes phone calls or letter writing. He points out that even if they are no longer able to attend church or do the things they once did they have not just laid in bed waiting to die, but instead they have stepped through that important door the Lord opened for them to spend much time in prayer and encouraging others.

[JerryNumbers]

No doubt, people would criticize people such as her these days, find fault with her, telling her she should get a job, support, instead of living off the church.

For most today, its about attending services, leaving, thinking one has fulfilled all of their Christian obligations, living wholly for self the rest of the time.

[irishman]

Good point Jerry, but what I really had in mind is those in the church that we think are doing nothing. We look down on them often, and yet they may be upholding us in prayer, enabling us to do what needs to be done. Each of us is important in the Lord's work, but the "up front" people often resent those that they think are laying back and not serving. We do not know the hours one might spend in prayer, and the difference it would make.

[JerryNumbers]

I got the meaning. maybe this will help a bit more.

Quote from my last post; "people would criticize people such as her these days," & that's exactly what I mean, seems we people will try to hold others to do the same things we do, many times unaware of their work for Christ that they're busy doing, because they're not out there beside us working.

Many times, we all have different talents, & God gives each of us different talents to do different works. If we all had the same talent, to do the same work, our churches would not be equipped to do all the works God has given our church to do. Yet, most churches have people equipped to carryout what God has given that church to do, that is if each member will use their God given talent. Of course, some are given more than one talent, in many churches some will set back letting them do all the work, even over work them & all they do is complain or say, we need to do this or that.