Jesus is Alive ... and Prays for Us
He is able to save those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)
Heb. 7:23-27; Isa. 53:12; Lk. 22:32; Jn. 14:16; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14-15 and 8:1
What Is God Saying?
The wonderful message of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ is greater than any religion and He is alive forever. The power of Jesus to save and the grace of Jesus to intercede will never cease. He has always loved us and will never stop. No one or nothing can ever cause His love to stop. We can never be taken from Him. No one else can ever possess this divine power and love. Priests will come and go. People will cross our paths and may bring a radiance to our lives. They may sincerely care. They may want to help and often do, but only Jesus is forever. His is a Priesthood (call it a praying Friendship, a caring Heart, a strong Enabler) that will never pass away. That is the distinctive and singular meaning of His Priesthood. That is the point that the writer to the Hebrews makes. That is the doorway to the incredible assurance and joy that can be ours.
How Does This Apply To Us?
We pray to Him. What a privilege, what a door of hope, what calming of the spirit, what renewal of strength, what a light on our daily path. Now add to this that He prays for us. This is staggering!
Think of Who Jesus is. ‘The highest place that Heaven affords is His, King of kings, and Lord of lords, Heaven's eternal Light.’ Think of who we are- sinners, prone to wander, single persons in a vast crowd, part of a stream of humanity. Think of what He does for us-He who always lives, and is always present. He who always cares prays for us. Pray to Him who prays for you.
Pray With Me
Lord Jesus, ever-loving and ever-living, I am greatly encouraged by knowing that as You are able for all time to save, so You are willing for all time to pray for me. I am overwhelmed. The One through whom I draw near to God, the One in whose Name I begin and end my prayers, is the very One who intercedes for me. I pray to Jesus and I find surprising joy, deeper blessing, and richer treasure. Jesus prays for me.
Pray for me, Jesus. Intercede in those areas of my need where I have grown careless and powerless. Pray for me when I need it most and recognize it least. Pray for me when things go well and I find myself thinking that prayer is not so important. Pray for me when my need is too deep to find expression in words. Pray for me when, with all sincerity, I am asking for the wrong thing, in the wrong way, at the wrong time, and for the wrong reasons. Pray for me in prayer that supersedes my well-meant petitions. Pray for me when I cannot pray. Pray for me when I do not pray. Pray for me when I don't feel like praying.
Thank you, Lord, for interceding and thank You for superseding. Thank You for taking my petitions and making them strong and to the point. Thank You for praying for me when I have grown careless and prayerless. Thank You for hearing my wrong requests and leading me to the right answers. Help me, Lord, to become so identified with Your purpose and so imbued with Your love that whenever I pray it will be an echo of Your prayer. Then as You pray for others, I will join You in the blessed privilege of interceding. As You pray for me, I will quickly agree and strongly affirm, that Your prayer is right and the answer will be beyond all I could ask or think.
In the name of Him who always lives to pray for me. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Jesus always lives to pray for us. That assurance should make our prayer to Him more confident and more faithful. If He is willing and pleased to pray for us, we should find it our greatest joy and privilege to pray to Him. This is the way to build and strengthen any friendship—frequent sharing and deep caring. He cares. He prays. Should not we?
