If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. —1 John 5:16
If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf. God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit. If we are not attentive, we will be completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us, becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, “…he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” Be careful that you don’t become a hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him yourself.
One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, “life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.
Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Getting your “view concerning the people for whom we pray” is not only how we want to pray about people but also how we want to pray about everything … and even how we should live our whole life. Easy to say and easy to see that it would be a wonderful way to live. There just seem to be so many barriers to it’s implementation. Like the strong pull to judge ourselves unworthy and get onto a squirrel cage of guilt management where we try to “get better” When we are striving, I suspect that missing your best is just built in, as striving and peace dont seem to go together.
If you want to strive, strive only for this: to know me, to connect with me and to love as I love … actually get connected so tightly that you can love not only as I love but with my love. It will be my love flowing thru you.
OK, I believe, Help my unbelief. I’ve been mentally convinced and am even more convinced today. So here I go into my day. Let’s see if I can just stay connected with you and deliver your love into the folks you bring across my path.
Yes, let’s go have an adventure today. The only dragons I have for you to slay today are the backsliding dragons that would pull you back into self reliance instead of relying on me. Resist those and stay with me.
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BTW as we were playing the song today, this other song with a similar title came to mind. Together they bring a fuller message. Enjoy.