[Please click here to read the first part of this entry]
All our worlds are filled with many people who have several needs. A friend sinking in secret sin, a family in debt, a dysfunctional home, a threatening disease, an abusive spouse, unruly children. And the list is endless...
The voice of my friend still rings in my ear, she called up to chat about college, and with time she started opening up, "My dad has a severe heart condition, but he just won’t quit smoking and drinking, my mom and me are tired of crying and begging him to change. But he just won’t give it up. He blames my mom for his disappointments and says that alcohol makes him forget his bitter failures." She said this, and she began crying. "How can I change my father??"
Each one of us must have faced times such as this. When someone knocked our door for help, and we were helpless ourselves. Despite our incapacity, just like the guy in the story, we need to be determined to help. Times like this call for our knocking at Heaven's door. Rest assured that there is no lack there.
It is necessary that we look deeper inside the story to understand the point that Jesus was trying to make. It is not about God’s insensitivity to need, it is not that He is reluctant to help. But he desires to delay, in order to help us overcome our uncaring attitude. He longs to see us function in love. We won’t be persistent about something that we don’t care about. Our shameless pleading is an indication of our deep love for the other and unshakable confidence in His power. I believe that this is what God wants to achieve in our lives.
Intercession is not a ritual; it is not to help you score points with God. Rather, it is a spiritual exercise designed by God, to enlarge our love tank and our faith tank.
I have often thought that Christ’s death for me was the display of the highest form of love….until I found this verse.
Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 (NIV)
Isn’t it amazing that Christ Jesus who suffered the worst form of humiliation on the cross, still persistently pleads for our cause?
When Jesus talks about shameless persistence, He expects us to imitate Him. Our perfect model for intercession…
Let us learn to love, before we learn to pray.
Callie
4 comments:
I believe sometimes even a tiny, "Lord, please make things work for my friend" helps
:)
You are right!! Jesus lived nearly 34 yrs on earth and died. But after that he has been praying for us more than 2000 years. What a God we have.
Thanks for reminding, sharing. Great Post!!
@Teena.. yes Harriet, it helps.. I've benefited from the prayers of many wonderful friends and you being one..
@Kingsly Yeah Kingsly....inspite of doing so much, He still pleads on my behalf....Unfortunate that though I do nothing for anyone, I find it a trouble to pray for them!!
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