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THE BEST COMPLIMENT

There's an old adage that the best compliment someone can give you is behind your back.

Sam tells Joe how great of a person you are and then Joe comes and tells you that Sam has great things to say about you.

This encourages you that Sam has good things to say about you, advocates for you, and is in your corner.

Behind-back compliments hit different.

There's something similar to this when we look at Matthew 19:15.

MATTHEW 19:15

Jesus has just rebuked the disciples for rebuking parents for bring their kids to Jesus.

Jesus makes it clear that kids are welcome because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them as well.

This small section closes with:

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them...

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me...for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

15 When he had placed his hands on them [and prayed for them], he went on from there.

This gospel accounts are primarily filled with teachings and command miracles of Jesus.

We also find in the Gospels that Jesus prays:

  • Alone in the mornings and evenings
  • In the presence of his disciples to God
  • And then here over kids

These moments are more rare, but the books of Hebrews reminds us that this prayer ministry of Jesus didn't cease after his resurrection but continues in his ascension.

Romans 8:21 says:

34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

1 John 2:1 says:

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Hebrews 7:24-25 says:

24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for [us].

ASK JESUS TO PRAY FOR YOU

One of the goals of the Christian life is to:

  • Pray to Jesus regularly
  • Listen to Jesus regularly 
  • Ask Jesus to pray for you regularly

This is such good news.

The risen Christ, that sits at the right hand of the Father, is actively interceding on your behalf.

Lean into this.

As you pray also ask Jesus to pray:

  • For you
  • For your spouse
  • For your kids
  • for whatever thing(s) you are leaning into this Lent season.

Jesus prays for us.

This is powerful.