Forever to Intercede

 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

1st Peter 4:7-8 NKJV

Do you ever get tired of praying for people? Especially the same people? You know the ones - It seems as though they go merrily along in their self-destructive ways without a single thought toward their eternity – they never seem to want to change. Do you ever reach the point when you think, Okay, I’m done praying for them. I’m not wasting another breath…? Sometimes, we think we’ve done all we can do.

Jesus didn’t give up on us. He’s done more for us than we ever did for anyone else. None of us have been crucified on a cross. Now, if you were to ask me - in my finite mind - I would say He has done all He can do for us by dying on the cross for our sins… but that’s not the end of it. Romans 8:34b NKJV tells us,  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 NLT makes it plain,  Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. 

The end may be in sight, but He has not given up on any of us. He’s not slacking up. He has not folded His arms and said, I’ve done all I can do. I’m not doing one more thing… According to Scripture, He lives FOREVER TO INTERCEDE with God on their [our] behalf. Shouldn't we be like Him?

Prayer:

Father,          
           Forgive us for our selfishness. Change our hearts, Father, according to Your Word in Deuteronomy 30:6. Change our hearts and the hearts of all our descendants, so that we will love You with all our heart and soul and so we may live! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Losing to Gain

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Mark 8:35-37 NLT

What'd He say? Hang on and we lose it? Give it up and we keep it? It's the type of thing that confuses those who don't know Jesus as their Savior. Stuff like the last shall be first, and in our weakness He is strength, or like our text, If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. One of the best - Peace that passes all understanding. It makes no sense to the unbeliever. You really can't get a grasp on it until you have a hold on Jesus.

We're living in perilous times. I catch a lot of conversation from where I sit at work. People worry about everything - the country, their jobs,  their finances, their futures. They're worried about their homes being broken into and being robbed because the news and the Internet keep writing stories of increased robberies and burglaries. It's amazing to hear - it all revolves around money. You mess with people's money and it gets crazy. Of course, if the job (money) is their source for life, it's totally understandable. If that's all they have, what do they do? I don't know. I can't answer that.

That's another one of those wonderful things about the Lord. He is NOT diminished by interest rates or elections or world financial fiascos. He does NOT lose value in tough times or when the Dow tumbles. He is immoveable, unshakeable, Rock solid. You want a better interest rate? Increase your interest in Him. You want job security? He's always looking for workers. You want a financial institution that cannot be affected by today's market or some Fed in Washington? Matthew 6:19-21 NLT reads, (Jesus speaking), Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

How do you store up treasure in heaven? Matthew 19:21 tells us, Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. So let's revisit today's text - If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. Losing to gain. That's upside down. However, if you want a sure thing - there's only One Way...Jesus.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Prayer:

Father,
             It's true, Your ways are not our ways. We don't always understand. But some things we don't have to understand. Lord, cause us to walk in obedience to Your Word - to walk by faith in You, rather than in what we see. Help our unbelief. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Never Give Up

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1 NLT

Do you know the song This is the Stuff, sung by Francesca Battistelli? It starts with these words - I lost my keys in the great unknown, and call me please, 'cause I can't find my phone. This is the stuff that drives me crazy. This is the stuff that's getting to me lately. Who knew all these years that the story of my life was a hit record waiting to happen?

As I’ve gotten older, it’s only gotten worse. I can lose something I had in my hand 10 seconds ago when I never left the room! I haven’t figured out that one yet… It seems I definitely lose more things than I can find. One of my favorite quotes of all time is this; Those who are organized and keep a clean desk will never know the joy of finding something they thought they’d lost forever.

That being said, I have to tell you - All kidding aside - I have searched and searched – in multiple versions, translations and volumes and I have NEVER found one – NOT ONE Scripture that tells me to give up when I’m praying and believing according to God’s Word. Not one. Nor will you…

And I want to tell you – it is ABSOLUTELY God’s will to heal. If it wasn’t, Jesus wouldn’t have taken the stripes on His back for our healing. So it’s very simple. Pray BELIEVING - as Jesus instructs us, as recorded in Matthew 21. And keep believing!

Never give up. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NKJV

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Your Word in Psalm 119, verse 114, You are my refuge and my shield; Your Word is my source of hope. In You, I put my trust. I choose to believe Your Truth over anything and anybody. Let Your light of Truth shine, Father. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen