Priye, Priye, Priye - Pray, Pray, Pray For One Another

My Utmost For His Highest

“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 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.[..] 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. […] Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit?” CHAMBERS

Every day we meet people who are carrying a burden or perhaps many burdens.  If we are students of the Bible, we know verses that come to mind in the course of our conversation that we often share.  Certainly the Word is good for the soul.  But we should not stop there .. although we very often do.  Cain said to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  (Genesis 4:9)  His response to God had more to do with his guilt over killing Able, but it raises an interesting question.  As Christians, what is our responsibility toward other people?  We are all called to be intercessors.  The second greatest commandment is loving your neighbor (Matthew 22).  That does not mean just having a benevolent attitude toward him.  The love of God (agape) is active not passive.  We should not just have sympathy for others, but we should intercede before God for them.  That requires discipline on our part.  We have to be disciplined to remember their burdens beyond the conversation and to take action on their behalf before the Creator God.  The God who gives comfort in the midst of our afflictions (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).  I am reminded of Pastor Bichotte, a Haitian pastor in Jacmel.  When he speaks to his congregation, almost every Sunday he will say to them “Priye, priye, priye, priye!” “Pray, pray, pray, pray!”  And I would say them same to you.  ELGIN

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)