The Greatest Joy
How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never-ceasing
intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and when we are not
praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us from
unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter--"Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
but" 1--what? "But go and pray for yourself"?
That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither
does He say, "But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be
preserved." That would be a great blessing. No, it is, "But I have
prayed for you that your faith
may not fail." 2
We little know what we owe to our Savior's prayers. When we
reach the hilltops of heaven and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord
our God has led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne,
undid the mischief that Satan was doing upon earth.
How we shall thank Him because He never held His peace but day
and night pointed to the wounds upon His hands and carried our names upon His
breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him
and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Consider, He does not say,
"Satan hath desired to have you." He checks Satan even in his very
desire and nips it in the bud. He does not say, "But I have desired to
pray for you." No, but "I have prayed for you--I have done it
already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an
accusation is made." O Jesus, what a comfort it is that You have pleaded
our cause against our unseen enemies; You have unmasked their ambushes. Here is
a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.
From Morning & Evening revised and edited by Alistair Begg
copyright © 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry
of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.
Sid Stewart
Executive Director
864 226-6193
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