4. He prays for us
When the (now) late Edwin Pons* retired, we asked him to conduct a retreat for ministers in the Port Elizabeth Presbytery. We were hanging onto his lips because he'd had a long and fruitful ministry, a happy marriage and had made a significant contribution. Here was a man who was finishing well and we wanted to learn from him. He conducted a very meaningful day long retreat but the highlight was when he shared what had been his greatest comfort in a long and very fruitful ministry.
His comfort came from this idea that the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, the victorious Son of God, prays for us and that His prayers for us come from His experience of our pain and heartache: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." (Heb4:15)Edwin had us meditate on this thought:
- Jesus (think about who He is and what He did)
- our great High Priest (think about what this role entails)
- prays (think about what is involved in sincere prayer)
- for me!! (My "stuff" matters to Him)
Go through the rest of the day comforted by this amazing thought.
Jesus, our great high priest, is praying for you!
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* Edwin Pons was one of the most well-loved and able ministers in our denomination. He was a past moderator, planted many churches, including Port Alfred which he planted with Glen Craig after his (Edwin's) retirement. I remember him as a warm and godly man who opened his home in Kleinemond to hungry theology students whenever they came to preach in the newly planted Port Alfred Preaching Station.
| Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews7:23-25) |
