My Utmost for His Highest - May 4th - Vicarious Intercession

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. - Hebrews 10:19

    Beware of imagining that intercession means bringing our personal sympathies into the presence of God and demanding that He does what we ask. Our approach to God is due entirely to the vicarious identification of our Lord with sin. We have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."

    Spiritual stubbornness is the most effectual hindrance to intercession, because it is based on sympathy with that in ourselves and in others that we do not think needs atoning for. We have the notion that there are certain right and virtuous things in us which do not need to be based on the Atonement, and just in the domain of "stodge" that is produced by this idea we cannot intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God's interests in others, we get petulant with God; we are always ready with our own ideas, and intercession becomes the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means the radical alteration of all our sympathies. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God's interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.

    Am I stubborn or substituted? Petted or perfect in my relationship to God? Sulky or spiritual? Determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

Mom's thoughts

Brooke's birthday

My thoughts

He continues to speak of prayer and the way we approach God. Sympathy (5) is spoken of again. And identifying ourselves with Him (Jesus our Lord).  Jesus and His atonement or sacrifice is also mentioned. By identifying with Jesus and with sin, we are radically altered of all our sympathies. What is God's interest in others?