The Courage to Intercede for the Lost

We inhabit a world that is in spiritual ruin. Sin and ignorance of the living and creator God is the only cause of the collapse of the values sustained by his Word. Our confidence rests on the promise that the Word is eternal, abides and will last forever, despite the rampant standards of atheism. Secularism has instituted its own values and disguised them with a Apparent cloak of piety, but deep down they are nothing more than deformations of the character of the impious man to go contrary to the designs and will of God: selfishness, pride, envy, debauchery. "The god of this world has blinded the minds of these unbelievers, so that they do not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, which is the image of God." (2 Cor 4.4).

The Word refers that Nehemiah felt the need to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city after receiving the report of the state of ruins in which they had been many years ago (Neh 1). The people of God, without walls to protect themselves, felt helpless, discouraged, not in the mood to get up to start the work. A feeling of desolation and helplessness had gripped those who had returned from exile in Babylon. The ruin was also moral.

Sin produces that. The course is lost, the soul is lost and until there is confession and repentance, nothing will happen. Nehemiah prayed, confessed his own sins, and only later did he cry out for restoration in favor of his people. Hearing this, I sat down to cry; I mourned for a few days, fasted and prayed to the God of heaven. ”(Neh 1.4). The following verses (5-11) express the value of the intercession of a servant of God for the lost - believers and non-believers-, the expression of solidarity and submission to the will of God of a man who cries out for his brothers.

More than 2000 years away from Nehemiah, we do not need today that an emissary reaches us to inform us that "the walls of our cities are in ruins and their gates are consumed by fire." The reality is before us. We know it, but we do not intercede enough on behalf of the people of God so that He restores the ruins that disobedience produces and works in the heart of a world that is lost. How long do we sit like Nehemiah to reflect on it? How much do we mourn for the misfortune of a brother who turned away from the faith and fell into moral ruin? Do we fast for the spiritual salvation of nations and peoples who deny the living God? How are the walls of our lives?

The kingdom of God needs intercession for the lost. It is a value to cultivate in each of your children. God does not reject prayer; His eyes are on the righteous and his ears are solicitous to the cry of the heart that prays for the Kingdom to be strengthened (Ps 34.15). The walls that surround our life in Christ need to be commended again and again to the Lord. We are weak and only in Christ do we receive the strength and power of the Spirit to edify and restore us. We are committed to praying for the lost and also for all believers. Paul exhorted the Ephesians: Pray in the Spirit at all times, with requests and requests. Stay alert and persevere in prayer for all the saints. " (Eph 6.18)

Nehemiah understood the value of interceding for the salvation and spiritual rebuilding of his brothers. The rebuilding of the wall was to be the preamble to a spiritual restoration that would lead the people to the deepest worship and obedience. My prayer is that in each of our peoples and nations intercessors men and women such as Nehemiah will rise up, who, leaving the opulence and comfort of a palace, recognized the greatness and fidelity of the God of the covenant, to dye his shirt with sweat and claim his promises of redemption.

God bless you!