April 1, 2004

[Kidan]

Quote[/b] ]It is Christ . . . who also makes intercession for us. . . . the Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints . . .
—Romans 8:34, 27

Quote[/b] ]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?

 

[Kidan]

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple days, but I've been sick, and haven't really done much of anything these past few days.

Anyways, on with the show...


This particular devotion has interesting implications with me. As a member of the Salvation Army, a good portion of my time and energy is spent in the various ministries of the SA. This is an organization who's primary motto is "Heart to God, hand to man."

Yet how often, do we get so overburdened in the second part of that motto that we forget the first part. I know I've often realized that I've done so, and I've had pastors within my corps that have done so as well.

When we stop placing our heart in God's, when we become so busy that we ignore God, our ministry to others suffers. No matter how many hands we are holding out to man, unless our heart is held out to God, it is quite in vain. Yes we may help some people, but it's a good possibility that we may hurt many others in the process. Remember, when we do the first, the second comes automatically, yet if we do the second, the first often fails. We should always strive not to help others, but to show our love of God. Helping others just comes naturally after that.

Today, look at your life, is your heart held out to God or are you to busy giving your hand out to your fellow man?