Tuesday of Rogationtide
Posted on May 16, 2023 by under
Scripture: Romans 8:24-28 (NKJV)
8:24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Devotion
We are sinners, that is for certain. Being sinners, we may find ourselves praying for things which do not truly benefit us. We pray out of the sinful desires of our hearts. As St. Paul says, “we do not know what we should pray for as we ought.” We are full of sin and lack understanding of what is truly beneficial to us.
This is where the Holy Ghost helps us. The Holy Ghost reminds us of the hope that we have in the Lord Jesus. He reminds us that this life will pass away, that our home is in Heaven. We have the promise of eternal life with our Lord God in the world to come. The Holy Ghost reminds us of this hope through the faith created in us by Him. We, therefore, can pray according to this hope.
Much in the same way that the pastor prays on behalf of the people in the General Prayer, the Holy Ghost prays on our behalf. The Holy Ghost takes our sinful words and thoughts and intercedes on our behalf “with groanings which cannot be uttered.” He makes intercession for us saints according to the will of the Lord God. He makes our sinful prayers pleasing to God so that we are granted the things for our benefit. We are granted a reminder of the promise of the things to come.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who in our affliction put our trust in Thy mercy, may ever be defended by Thy protection against all adversity, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
