The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Intercessor"
When tempted to discouragement, God calls born again believers to remember and affirm the One who never becomes discouraged, nor did He under the most severe of trials.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds"(Hebrews 12:2-3).
"He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
First, we remember that discouragement is a temptation. The matter involves not merely our human weakness, but even more, the devilish enticement to look unto ourselves and our challenges rather than unto the Lord Jesus. The Spirit of God and the Word of God ever beckon us to set the primary focus of our hearts on the Son of God. He knew more temptation to be "wearied and faint" than we will ever experience, and overcame all. Moreover, He is "set down at the right hand of God" in ongoing and active engagement for us. He makes intercession with the Father, who is Himself abundantly willing to be and do everything we require for our hearts to be kept in His peace. What the Lord Jesus has done and is doing secures our hearts as we look unto Him as "the author and finisher of our faith." Thereby we overcome our spiritual enemies' attempts to cast us down as we look up to see by faith the risen and interceding Christ as our hope and peace.
"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).
When tempted to discouragement, we pray, and also seek fellow believers to join us. What if, however, Someone else also intercedes for us, Someone who has faced and overcome every challenge, and who knows precisely how to make intercession for us in the present moment? The remembrance of such grace cannot fail to provide encouragement needed for all who see the Lord Jesus at the Father's right hand, successfully fulfilling the ongoing ministry of intercession no less than He triumphed in His finished work of atonement. It matters not the issue that would cast us down. The Holy Spirit works to lift us up by leading us to remember the risen Lord Jesus and what He has done, is doing, and will do forevermore for those who have trusted Him. "So great salvation" described the writer of Hebrews regarding such grace, provided by so great a Savior - the Author of our faith, the Finisher of our faith, and the One who in this present moment and forever will be found…
"To appear in the presence of God for us."
(Hebrews 9:24)
Weekly Memory Verse
"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory."
(Hebrews 2:10).
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