LUKE 22:31–32 – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
THEME OF THE DAY: I AM PRAYING FOR YOU. Today’s nugget theme is one of the two most encouraging sentences we will ever say to another believer. The other is “I love you.” And the two most encouraging actions we may give toward another Christian is to show our love to them by service and actually praying for them.
In today’s scripture, multiply the encouragement factor behind the words “I am praying for you” as it comes not from a flawed and forgetful sinner saved by grace, but from the God-man, the Perfect Son of God, our Savior, and High Priest. Now pause for a moment. Jesus prays for us. In the case of Peter, He prays his faith will not fail. We know soon after these words from our Lord, Peter, the person, would fail the Lord by denying Him. Oh, he didn’t fail in his faith but he did fail as a prideful, self-sufficient, ignorant of himself person who needed to fail to make him humble. How do we know Peter didn’t fail in his faith? Two reasons.
First, the Lord prayed Peter’s faith would not fail, and what Jesus prays for gets answered. The second reason is Peter fell in his sin of denying the Lord three times, but he didn’t fall away. He never abandoned the faith. In fact, he was restored not only in his relationship with Jesus, but recommissioned into service for Him – When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go” (John 21:15-18).
As staggering and amazing it is that the Son of God would pray for us, pause, and be overwhelmed by the frequency He prays for us – Consequently, he (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25). Our Lord is constantly praying for us! Even when we fail? Yes. Even when we sin? Yes. Always means always and that is all always means! Unlike well-intended but forgetful humans, Jesus never forgets and to know the Son of God constantly prays for us will lift up the Christian mired in the deepest pits of discouragement and depression.
“I am praying for you” are words we need to share often with other Christians, and then actually pray for them often. And while we are at it, let’s remind each other that the Lord Jesus prays for us too – always!
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for making Your Son my High Priest who always prays for me.”
QUOTE: “The most encouraging words we will ever hear are, ‘I love you and am praying for You.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim