It is Christ . . . who also makes intercession for us. . . . the Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints . . . —Romans 8:34, 27
Do we need any more arguments than these to become intercessors-that Christ “always lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25), and that the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints”? Are we living in such a relationship with others that we do the work of intercession as a result of being the children of God who are taught by His Spirit? We should take a look at our current circumstances. Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country, or elsewhere, seem to be crushing in on us? Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship? If so, we must put a stop to such distractions and get into such a living relationship with God that our relationship with others is maintained through the work of intercession, where God works His miracles.
Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don’t worship God, and we fail to intercede. If a burden and its resulting pressure come upon us while we are not in an attitude of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls. God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them. We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go. A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.
Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit?
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April 1, 2013
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Lord, this seems to be an extension of my most recent series of prayer requests…that You make me a man after Your own heart. I know, although I often find it hard to live out, that being connected to You is the most important thing this day, and every day. Help me to live out this prayer and to stop and acknowledge, many times today, that being connected to Jesus is the most important thing I can do this day and every day.
And God says…”Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus…and all things will be added to you. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight. It is the very same lesson, over and over; that you seek Jesus in all you say and do every day…and you will find life and life more abundant, regardless of your circumstances.”
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