“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”
Luke 22:31-32
They say that betrayal cuts deeper than any other kind of pain. Probably that’s because only a friend can betray you. An enemy can’t. And the fact that Judas, someone from the Lord’s inner circle of closest friends, stabbed Him in the back, is very unsettling for those of us in His circle of friends today.
It’s scary to think that we have the potential to betray our Lord. We will sing “What a Friend We have in Jesus” in one breath, and then we act as though He’s anything but a friend. We end up behaving like a real Judas when we dishonor the Lord’s name and discredit His reputation. It should concern us all that Judas, one who knew the Lord so intimately, could fail Him so completely.
This is why we can appreciate the intercessory prayers of Jesus. He knows all about those times when we are tempted to betray Him with an act of stubborn disobedience. Jesus knows very well that our faith can fail. That’s why He prayed for Simon Peter… that’s why He prays for you.
Enemies of the Lord may mock Him, agnostics may scorn Him, and atheists may laugh at Him. But only you, His friend, can betray your Lord. In short, don’t you dare. One backstabbing is enough. Lean on your Lord’s intercessions for you, and that will give you all the resource you need to love and obey.
Great Intercessor, I praise You that You are living to intercede on the behalf of Your children that they might remain strengthened by Your grace and obedient to Your will. Thank You for including me in Your prayers… for praying that my faith today may not fail. You are all the resource I need to make that happen!
