Daily Lectionary February 28 2007 First Thoughts

Psalm 5; Deut 9:13-21; Heb 3:12-19; John 2:23-3:15

Thank God for intercessors – those people who are always looking out for my hard heart, who catch me letting my eyes linger over the bling in life, who bring me back when I want to run. Intercessors, who care for me and my ministry, who love me and encourage me, pray for me. Thank God for Moses who pleaded Israel’s case when they would be doomed, and God listened. Thank God for Jesus, who continues to stand between me and God, ready to intercede and defend and take on my waywardness and ignorance. And thank God for those who pray for me, in Jesus’ name. I know who you are, and I am humbled for it.

The psalmist in psalm 5 was left to plead his own case: ¹Give ear to my words, O LORD;give heed to my sighing. ²Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. ³O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

Without Jesus and without intercessors who pray in the name and power of Jesus, we’re left with pleading our own case. That is if we come to our senses at all about what we’re doing, how we’re going so wrong. We need prayer for that too. Selling trinkets in the temple, storing up treasures on earth, cramming our schedules with busyness, tolerating all kinds of evil, prayerlessness, indifference, immorality – stubbornness and unkindness, impatience…you name it. Every day, even this partner with Christ, takes her eye of the Master, and every day, I rely on intercessors to help bring me to my senses. Now I know it is the Holy Spirit who does the work – that God is sovereign over my life and my sin and my response and the prayers of my intercessors. God is sovereign over the world. But the mystery is this:

God has called for intercessors to partner with God in the salvation and in the sanctification of God’s people. In coming to faith, and in living by faith. God does not leave us to plead for ourselves. And as I am prayed for, as Moses prayed for Israel, as Jesus prayed for us, I also am called to pray for others: for encouragement, for their peace and for their comfort in this life, but most assuredly, for their salvation in Christ, that others will be “born from above” rather than doomed to live for only what is below. Prayers for others to come to their senses, for spiritual understanding and repentance. To break through stubbornness and pride. And for the journey, prayers for heavenly perspective and earthly good works. For courage and perseverance.

We have a lot to pray about. We have many to pray for. Pray the psalms for someone else today. God is waiting to hear and answer.