Turn Ye Not Aside

And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. (1 Samuel 12:21)

There are occasions in life when we encounter painful evidence of this. Friends who once served the Lord - indeed were brought up in the fear of the Lord, who have turned aside and gone after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.

Today was one of those occasions. Painful it is, but I also found some admonition from the words of Samuel in response to such an occasion: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you...(1 Samuel 12:23)

Clearly, praying for the wayward is not an optional pious pastime.