I have prayed for you,
that your faith should not fail.
Luke 22:32
On the night before his death, Jesus made this announcement:"All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee"
Translation? Your fall will be great, but my grace will be greater. You'll find me waiting for in Galilee.
The promise was lost on Peter: "Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble"
Not one of Peter's finer moments. Arrogant. Self -sufficient. Peter's trust was in Peter's strength. Yet Peter's strength would peter out. Jesus knew it.
Satan would attack and test Peter. But Satan would never claim Peter. Why? Because Peter was strong? No, because Jesus was. "I have prayed for you". Jesus ' prayers hamstring Satan.
Jesus prays for you as well.
Will God hear the intercessory pleas of his Son? Of course he will. Like Peter, our faith will wane, our resolve waver, but we will not fall away. We are "kept by Jesus" and "shielded by God's power". And that is no small power. It is the power of a living and ever-persistent Savior...who prays for us.
Max Lucado の「God Is with You Every Day」より
キリストが私たちのために、天におられる父なる神にとりなしてくださっていると考えてみたことはあるでしょうか？
私は、「そうなのですね・・・。」という程度の小さな理解しかしていません。
マックスのメッセージを読んでも、「そうなんだ・・・。」と思います。
でも、よく考えてみたら、そうとしか思えない、不思議な救われ方を何度も経験しました。
救われた後、のはなしです。
一度、キリストを受け入れて、でも途中で信じるのをやめた人を、私は、世界でひとりしか知りません。
本当に信じることをやめているかどうかは疑わしいものだと、今思いました。
キリストのとりなしのおかげ、これはキリスト者の感謝の源、大命題なわけです。