May 30 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These readings focus on the Holy Spirit. In the Old Covenant (or Testament), the Spirit "anoints" one person here and one there to perform a special work for God. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is "poured out" like rain on the whole church of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Romans 8:26–27

Bible Text:

The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will (Rom. 8:27).

Devotional:

Lawyers today are much maligned. Yet their work, as originally understood, is noble—even divine. Their function is to advocate, to intercede, to speak on another's behalf.

In today's text the Holy Spirit is said to intercede for the saints, to plead the case of God's children. And in Romans 8:34 Paul says Jesus also serves as an advocate. Sitting at the right hand of God, he is the lawyer for those he died to redeem.

Jesus intercedes for us in heaven. And the Spirit intercedes for us on earth.

The Spirit is in our hearts. Without him we don't pray at all. And when we pray, we need constant instruction or we merely stutter in the court of God. As individuals and as a church we don't even know our needs, let alone the glorious life to which we are entitled in Christ. That's why God gave us a Mediator. Because of this advocate's translation work, the sighs of God's children are audible in the throne room of our sovereign God.

Intercession is a merciful and powerful work. Since the Spirit intercedes on our behalf, we should intercede for others. Intercession is the best and most loving thing we can do on behalf of our friends and relatives. We should especially pray for those who never pray. Intercede for the ignorant and dying.

We pray not merely to get things from God but to get us to God and God to us. For God is all we need. "Of him and through him and unto him are all things." Even our own prayers.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.