FWD: Morning Manna (Dec. 12); BP: Is. 53; RBTTY: Rev. 3; Hos. 9-11

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

---

-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:21:51 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Dec. 12); BP: Is. 53; RBTTY: Rev. 3; Hos. 9-11
 
December 12                                                                             "Christ, Our Incessant Intercessor"  
". . .and He bore the sin of many and made intercessor for the transgressors."
                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 53:12c
      Never think that no one’s praying for you; He is.
     We know the most powerful force in the world is not bombs or bullets. . .armies or armor. . . missiles or men’s might, etc. Neither is it man’s intellect, inventions or ingenuity.
      It’s love. Agape love. God’s type love. Love that seeks nothing in return, but is always self-giving and always seeking to reach out to others. In reality that’s what today’s Manna is all about—for it’s impossible to "bear the sin of many and make intercessor for transgressors" without love reigning in one’s heart.
 
     What else, apart from Love, could have enabled the Lord Jesus, Who’d been so maligned, misrepresented and mistreated, to still pray "Father, forgive them—for they know not what they are doing" (Lk. 23:34)? Likewise, what, apart from a God-sized Love, could have enabled Jesus to find Peter on the seashore that morning. . .feed him breakfast. . .and still let him know he was usable to Him (Jn. 21:15-17)?
 
      Only His love could have done that.
     And, only His love at work in us can enable us to do that.
     You see, forgiveness is one of the outworkings of true Love. It is the refusal to keep score or a record of one’s injustices against us (I Cor. 13:4-7); in fact, it is a love that will still reach out to someone in need, even if he/she is the one who’s hurt us (Mt. 5:38-48). Only then will we know the Holy Spirit has free reign in our hearts. Only then.
 
     Oh, dear Pilgrim, how quickly we forget who we are and what we’ve done apart from the Lord’s grace (Is. 64:6). Even though we may have a good education, nice house to live in, plenty of food to eat, an enviable retirement plan, etc., apart from His mercy and grace we are just like Hagar in the wilderness: Homeless, helpless and hopeless (Gen. 16:4-13; Lam. 3:21-23).
 
     Isn’t it wonderful to know that one of the Lord Jesus’ ministry in Heaven at this very moment is praying for us by name (Heb. 7:24-25)? Isn’t it wonderful to know His sweet Holy Spirit is the One Who takes our feeble prayers, perfects them and presents them to the Heavenly Father according to His will (Rom. 8:26-27)?
 
     Assuredly it is.
     That’s why we should never fret or fume when things are falling apart (Ps. 37:1)—for Jesus, our "Incessant Intercessor" is on-duty 24/7 and knows what we need just when we need it (Ps. 46:1; Phil. 4:19). Right now, the One with nail-scars in His Hands, is praying for us by name before the Heavenly Father.
 
     Why not stop what you’re doing right now and spend a few minutes talking with your Intercessor? Feel His loving arms pull you close to His heart and pour out your heart to Him. Then rest in Him—knowing He’ll always do what’s best (Rom. 8:28).