Building Bridges
Years ago I remember reading an evangelistic tract, created by Campus Crusade, called: “The Four Spiritual Laws”. In this tract, there is a clear presentation of the plan of salvation. The second law, in this tract, speaks of the gulf created by sin, that separates man from God and the third law explains how God sent His Son, Jesus, to bridge the gap, thus becoming the only Way for man to come to Him. This is the diagram that illustrates this truth.
In the book of Hebrews, we see that the present day ministry of Jesus is that of intercession, (7:25). Inter, means between and cession, means gap. It is the standing “in the gap”, or, in other words, becoming a bridge.
Jesus is continually the bridge between God and man. He is standing in the place of God and standing in the place of man. Inter-cession has to do with identification.
Intercession is also a way to pray. The principle is the same; it is the building of a bridge between the person in need and God. For one to intercede, he must first identify with the person he is praying for. Daniel interceded for the nation of Israel, praying, “we have sinned,” (Daniel 9:5). Even though Daniel was not of the generation of the people that sinned, he identified with their sin as if it was his own. Jesus, though being sinless, took on the sins of all humanity, as if it were His own. This prayer brings forgiveness and mercy, instead of condemnation and judgment.
To build a bridge in intercession, one must have one foot planted in the situation of the person in need and the other well established in God. The person that is suffering does not need pity, sympathy and someone to cry with, but needs a solution. God is the solution to all our needs and in intercession we can help the hurting person come to God. This ministry is of great importance. Paul told his disciple, Timothy, that before anything else he should make intercession for all men, (I Timothy 2:1-2). This, too, is God’s Word to us. We are to be bridge builders in prayer, bringing others to the bridge, which is Jesus Christ.
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Timothy 2:1-2; Hebrews 7:25; 5:7; Daniel 9:3-19; Ezekiel 22:30; Galatians 4:19