Day Thirty-eight

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 7:23–28

Have you wondered just what Christ is doing while He awaits the Father’s signal to return for His bride? He’s not just twiddling holy thumbs or frozen in indignation over the follies of men. Christ is very much at work in the here and now.

Hebrews 7:25 states one of Christ’s priority works on our behalf—He “lives to intercede for” us. The word translated save refers to “any kind of deliverance.” Considering the context and the parallel to the high priests over the nation of Israel, this verse may refer most readily to believers in Christ. The Son of God occupies the seat at the right hand of God where He is the designated High Priest, the divine Intercessor for His people. Christ “lives” to pray for us.

The original meaning of the word intercedes is very significant. The verb eutugchano “means to interpolate with familiarity and freedom of access, to interrupt another in speaking, to come to God with boldness.”10Consider briefly the wonderful elements of Christ’s intercession. First, He prays for us with familiarity. He is completely familiar with the Father and with us. He prays for us with complete knowledge and understanding of God’s perfect will, His ultimate plan, our deepest desires, and our greatest needs. He qualifies, therefore, as the perfect “go-between.”

Second, Christ has total freedom of access. So do we because Christ paved the way for us, but His physical position at His Father’s right hand and His familial position as the Father’s beloved Son grants Him a freedom of access unlike any other! Beloved, revel in knowing Christ uses His “freedom of access” on your behalf.

The third element in the definition is most intriguing. How does intercession involve “interrupting another in speaking”? I believe one of Christ’s greatest acts of intercession involves interrupting the feeble prayers of His people with familiarity, freedom, and confidence! I believe He is looking for people on their knees in prayer so He can interrupt sincere but impotent petitions with the power of the heavenlies!

Our great High Priest lives to empower our prayer lives. However, if we’re going to release Christ to do His fullest work as High Priest, we must first offer earnest prayer He can interrupt. How can He interrupt someone who is not praying?

Finally, the verse explains that Christ “comes to God with boldness.” Though He invites us to approach the throne boldly, we often have difficulty discerning where boldness ends and bossiness begin. Christ, on the other hand, always knows how and what to pray.

Thank Him for being your great High Priest. He lives to interrupt your life with power.