Ancient Intercession

Two thousand years ago, a certain Son of God had a conversation with the Ruler of the Universe. Read on, He was speaking directly about you. Put your name wherever you see mine, and listen to what the perfect Lamb of God said about you:

"I have revealed you to Karis, whom you gave me from this world. She was always yours. You gave her to me, and she has kept your word. Now she knows everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to her the message you gave me. She accepted it and knows that I came from you, and she believes you sent me.

 I have given Karis your word. And the world hates her because she does not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take her out of the world, but to keep her safe from the evil one. She does not belong to this world any more than I do. Make her holy by your truth; teach her your word, which is truth. 

Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending Karis into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for her so she can be made holy by your truth. I am in her and you are in me. My she and the other believers experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love her as much as you love me. Father, I want Karis, whom you have given me, to be with me where I am. Then she can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do, and Karis knows that you sent me. I have revealed you to her, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in her, and I will be in her."

This passage is in John 17, where Jesus is praying to God the Father about his disciples, as he knows it is almost time for him to be betrayed and crucified. How did I find the nerve to place my own name in place of "the disciples" ? Because of verse 20:

"I am praying not only for these disciples 

but also for all who will ever believe in me through 

their message."

If you are a believer, that includes you. It includes me. We are the people who believe in Christ through "their message." The message of the disciples. The Gospel. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospel message has survived through every criticism and attempt to eradicate. 

That prayer. Those words that were uttered by the One Righteous Person over two thousand years ago, were directly about me and you. Read it again and let the words compel and convict you. Christ died so we could be made like Him: In the world but not of the world. It blows me away to see how much love He had for me then, and how much He still lavishes on me now, even though I continue to disobey.

How can One heart have enough love to overflow the souls of millions of sinners? How can One mind be great enough to satisfy every hunger and thirst, heal sickness and injury, teach and inspire, protect and guide?

John the Apostle recorded for us what He heard Jesus praying for him and his friends. Imagine his amazement and humility while He heard the Messiah talking about God loving humans as much as His own Son! Imagine his inspiration and awe when He heard Jesus speaking with passion about every future soul who would come to know Christ. What a moment he was a part of. And he still took the time to record the powerful words so that they could be passed down through the generations to encourage people everywhere. 

God prayed to God about us. Unworthy, guilty, disobedient, proud, arrogant us. The perfect sacrifice actually prayed for those He was cleansing with His own blood. Can you spell 'Amazing Love'?!

When I am tempted to snap at a family member or a friend, to gossip about someone, to lie, to taunt or tease... I want to remember that prayer. I want to remember that Jesus prayed for me two thousand years ago, that I would be made Holy by truth, that I would go into the world, and that the world would know that I serve a God who loves me as much as He loves His One and only Son- the perfect Savior. 

How is it that we can be the recipients of such amazing, perfect love? Certainly not by works. We are less than undeserving of it. No, we were made physically perfect and beautiful by God, and then we chose to be made Holy by His truth. We were given a gift called salvation, we were bought back from the darkness and redeemed by the blood- blood which flowed from the innocent one who Prayed. For. Me.

The gravity of that love is only just beginning to set in, and I'm reminded of it every stormy night, every peaceful evening, every sunny morning, and every waking moment when I am with friends. He still surrounds me with it, and He continues to pray for little ol' me. Little selfish, sinful, unworthy me. All the way from his paradise in heaven, He never ignores me. He prays. Why? Because He loves me and He loves you more than anything, and it gives Him the greatest joy when a lost sheep is redeemed and guaranteed a room in heaven with Him.

Romans 8:34~

Who then will condemn us? 

No one--for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, 

and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, 

pleading for us.

Hebrews 7:25~

Therefore he is able, once and forever, 

to save those who come to God through him. 

He lives forever to intercede with God 

on their behalf.

We are being constantly smothered with grace and mercy.

All He asks in return is our commitment.

The Countdown

Remember the story of the rich fool? You can read it in Luke 12:13-27. He was probably one of the guys envied by the community. He had it all. He was hardworking and ambitious. He wasn't lazy- he planned ahead. He wanted to ensure a long and productive life of comfort, and he didn't dilly-dally. He had an extensive property which yielded a wonderful crop each year. He saw his opportunity and seized it immediately- he would have been respected in his time for being so diligent and industrious. He didn't waste a moment.

At least... he didn't waste a moment on foolish ideals. And this is what God said concerning the man's hard work and saving up of wealth: 

Luke 12:20~

But God said to him, "You fool! You will die this very night! 

Then who will get everything you worked for?"

You see, he, like most of us today, worked hard to try to ensure a wonderful, long life. He wasn't lazy, he did his best to save up his wealth so he could enjoy it later on in his life. He sought a bright future full of eating, drinking, and being merry. He was like the people we envy now with sound careers ahead of them, lots of savings for college and university, high ideals and good reputations. These are the people who we see  are going far in life. These are the people who will receive the highest quality education, and get the best-paying job. They are looked on with respect, because to the world, these are the people who did not waste their life.

To God, however, just like the rich man, they not only wasted their life, but also their chance for eternal life. The people we consider to be fools are the people who don't care about school, party all day and night, ignore the rules, and are lazy. It's true, those are all foolish things to do. However, many people who are also considered fools in today's society are those who have high credentials, opportunities for greatness and wealth, a beautiful home in a great neighborhood, a great reputation and fine looks, and supposedly "squander" it all to go and live in some third-world country far away from every friend, family member, and comfort, just to serve. To the world, they are foolish. To God, they know what's up.

Luke 12:21~

Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth 

but not have a rich relationship with God.

Those words are straight from the moth of Christ. What does that tell you about God's priorities? Does it mean we should forget about working hard in school and throw away all our money? I don't think so. God has given each of us gifts and talents to use for His purpose. To hide them away would be a sin, since they are not really ours. We have been entrusted with the life we have been given to use it all to bring glory to His name.

I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you when I say that all material goods will fade away. Nothing on this earth will last forever. It's not a shocker. This shows that if we cling to our wealth and our homes and our belongings and our prizes and our reputations, we will lose everything. But has it ever occurred to you that this applies to our lives, as well? Our lives don't seem like material items that will fade away, but let me explain. If we cling to our lives, doing everything we can to build them up and make them enjoyable, we will spend all our time and efforts and strength on something that will only last a century at the most. All the while, we have eternity to be thinking about! 

If we cling to our money, we will lose it and fall. If we cling to our possessions, they will fade away and we will be left with nothing. Basically, if we make these things our lives and cling to it more tightly than to God, we will lose everything. We will lose our lives.

Mark 8:34-37

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Don't always be thinking about today. Be thinking about eternity. The little acts of kindness and love that you show to the least of these is storing up treasures for you in heaven that will never rot or fade away. Your life is not worth clinging onto, but God is. He gave you life- it belongs to Him. And one last reminder:

Luke 12:15~

"Beware! Guard against every kind of greed.

Life is not measured by how much you own."

Are you measuring your life by man's standards, or by God? Are you a fool in the eyes of God, or will you be brave enough to look crazy in the eyes of man to serve the One who entrusted you with your life. The clock is ticking, don't waste your life!

Dual Citizenship

I am beginning to feel worn thin. Like Bilbo Baggins felt: like butter scraped over too much bread. I have so much on my mind, Lord. My brain is full. I attempted to chart out the different events and tasks that have been circulating in my mind. It was the most complex pie chart I have ever seen.

 I feel as though every task in the world has been thrown onto my shoulders, and I need more than 24-hour-long days to accomplish them. 

Over the next few weeks, I have so much planned, but even more uncertainty. I don't know how things will play out, even though I am risking much and giving my all to organize and figure life out. What will succeed and what till fail, I can only guess. My rapidly approaching future is worrying me, and I feel as if the only option left is to lie awake at night, tossing and turning. What more can I give? Will it even be worth it?

The funny thing is... You're already there. The future, I mean. You, the God of Israel, go ahead of me. You, the God of Israel, protect me from behind. You already see around all these corners in my life, and You have orchestrated how everything will work out for good. Does my worrying make time slow down? Does my stress help you fix everything faster? No. You are in control. It's good. I keep forgetting that truth, and thinking that I am in control, which explains why I am so stressed.

I keep relying on my little 16-year-old mind and body to plan what is meant to be in the hands of an eternity-old God. Why is it so hard to surrender these things to You? 

I understand, now, Matthew 6:31~

"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? 

What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers but your 

heavenly Father already knows all your needs."

I call myself a believer, but I worry. Constantly. "Believe" and "worry" are pretty much antonyms. "Trust" and "Stress" are apposites. I'm living a dual citizenship: I'm professing to be a servant to God and a citizen of heaven, but I'm handling life like a lost individual; a citizen of the unbelieving world.

God, I want to trust you. You've said that if we seek You first, You will provide all that we need. Looking back at that pie chart of my mind... not a single section of it was labeled with Your name. 

I need to refocus. Lord, please help me turn that pie chart into a single section- one that represents a mind that is 100% focused on You and Your will. I don't want you to be my last resort or my Plan Z. I know You care about me, even all my meaningless busyness. You still love me enough to stick by me in all my frantic bustling. Thank You for your peace.

You have promised that if we seek Your will first, above all our other meaningless priorities, then You will straighten our paths. You have said that if we rely on our own understandings, all our works and deeds will result in disaster and nothingness. You work out everything for the good of those who love You. Help me to love YOU more than my responsibilities, friends, family, hobbies, and every other good thing that can turn into a distraction. You, and You alone, are the One who can help me reorganize all these gifts into exactly that: gifts. They are gifts from You. And who is more important- the gift, or the Giver?

I am a citizen of heaven. Help me to have the faith and trust that decorates Your ambassadors. Those are the people who do not worry about what they will eat or how they will raise the money to get from here to there. These are Your warriors who know that You listen to their prayers, and that if they are where You want them to be- You will make a way. You will show them a miracle.

Thoughts of worry and unrest are what fill the hearts and minds of UN-believers. But those are the things that are filling my mind, the mind that proclaims to be a believer in You. I'll need help, but God, I don't want to be a dual-citizen any longer.

John 14:27 ~

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."