Vicarious Intercession

 . . having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus . . . —Hebrews 10:19
 
We have no right, on our own, to enter the Holiest. Our ticket is the blood of Jesus. Sometimes we believe that our cause is so right or that we have somehow earned a hearing by something we have done. There are many problems with this attitude. First, we are incapable, on our own, of judging the rightness of a cause. When we seek to have God change some circumstance, we presume that we know that the circumstance is not His will or not in the best interest of those affected. We don’t have that knowledge. As to us having earned a hearing  before the Father, nothing we could ever do is that good. Just forget it.
As an example consider the oil spill now in the Gulf and threatening the coast. On our own we conclude that certainly no good thing could come from that and certainly God should intervene. But we don’t have God’s view. For example, how many are turning to Him because of the spill. He seeks our worship and our fellowship. He seems to  be getting just a bit more of that the last few days.
 
Another danger is to conclude that if the danger moves from Louisiana to Mississippi or Alabama or Florida it’s because of the power of our intercession or that we are less deserving of disaster and others are getting what they deserve. I know these thoughts sound silly when spoken out or written, but consider how some are praying. Apparently nothing is to silly for man.
Should the oil situation cause us to pray? Absolutely. We should take advantage of the blood of our Lord, crawl into the lap of our Father where we will find comfort and maybe some understanding  of his heart and mind and perhaps some protection from His righteous wrath as well.
Father, we thank you for the blood of Jesus whose sacrifice even allows us to come to you. We beg your forgiveness for coming only when frightened. We beg your forgiveness for having taken advantage of your bounty without a thought to your goodness and the love that provided it. Teach us what you would have us learn from this. Show your power and sovereignty in dealing with this and wrap your arms of love around all affected by this as you draw all men to you. In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.
Blessings,
Nick

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