The Potter’s way of discipleship is sometimes marked by travail. The Great Intercessor will take hold of His vessel and give utterance on behalf of the most unlikely candidates.
Dear Lord, you remind us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. Only by your Spirit I can offer a requiem for the pawn.
Requiem for the Pawn I decided to watch the Medgar Evers Story Bracing myself, as the familiar scene drew near Where the assassin took aim and our hero fell All set for my reasonable response: Grief, anger, and sorrow for the good man That looked like me Prayerful compassion for his family left to mourn And for the just cause that had cost him his life Suddenly, as I stood to go into the kitchen A sharp pain pierced my heart It took my breath away Not physical – something much deeper An audible cry Followed by a sadness that dropped me to my knees What is this pain, Lord? Please, take it away from me. How shall I convey the response from heaven? My old man railed against the thought So far removed from what I wanted to hear A glimpse into the heart of God: I would partake of His grief For the ones that perpetrate evil! Hearing within me that Jesus had Medgar And would perfect those things concerning him Then, destined to grasp the plight of the murderer I was taken to a place by Executive OrderTranscending my flesh and will With no regard for comfort This vessel who thought herself a woman of prayer Opened her mouth and out came supplication Prayer for the living-dead Intercession for the enemy’s pawn When the Spirit lifted I was left humbled as never before Used and clean – a new respect for His words of life Jesus called His betrayer “friend” and defined Agape As the willingness to lay down His life for him How we dumb-down the way of love When carnal minds reject that death-to-self Too mired by pain and fear To carry our cross and follow Flesh wars against the call of God Wanting to lay down religion and take up revenge But the Commander in Chief has offered weapons Not carnal but mighty And He has named the true opponent For those who trust and believe: Our obedience, a sweet aroma… Pride burning on the altar of sacrice.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44
My thoughts
Jesus showed me how serious He is about the charge to bless our enemies. I was conscripted by the Spirit, and love came forth through intercessory prayer. The experience reminded me that submission to
Christ means death to the flesh. And, from that death we’re made vessels fit for the Master’s use.
For further study: Consider these related Scriptures
Matthew 5:10; 5:38-39, 46; 26:52
1 Peter 3:9
Romans 12:19-21
Philippians 3:10
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