June 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"I have prayed for you..." (Luke 22:32).

Devotional

Do not overlook the individuality of our Lord's intercession. As if forgetting for a moment the whole church and regarding Peter as representing each tempted believer, Jesus makes him the especial object of his prayer.

How much comfort do we lose in overlooking this truth—in not more distinctly recognizing the personal interest which each believer has in the love of Christ! "My grace is sufficient for you" and "I have prayed for you" are the gracious words with which Jesus would meet each individual case (2 Cor. 12:9; Luke 22:32).

O believer, never think then that you are alone, unloved, uncared for, unthought of. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep by name. Jesus bears you upon his heart. And if he himself loves and cares for and remembers you, then you can afford to part with some created blessing, however you may love and value it. Keep your eye intently fixed upon your Lord's intercession.

We too much lose ourselves in the crowd. We too much merge ourselves in the mass. We at the same time forget our individual interest in the covenant and our personal obligation to glorify God in our different walks of life.

But it is the especial privilege of every believer to focus upon himself every thought and affection of God, just as the eye of a well-executed portrait seems to look exclusively at each individual in the room.

"I have prayed for you." O cheering declaration! Christian reader, never lose sight of it.

Come and lay your hand of faith upon the covenant of grace, and say, "the fullness of the covenant is mine." Lay your hand upon the covenant of God, and say, "the God of the covenant is my God. Jesus, its Mediator, is my Savior. He obeyed, suffered, bled, and expired for me. He 'loved me and gave himself for me' (Gal. 2:20). Lord! do you think of me? Does my case come up before your notice? Do you bear my burden upon your arm, my sorrow upon your heart, my name upon your lips? And do you pray for my poor, assaulted, and trembling faith? Yes, Lord, you do. I believe it, because you say it and press the precious truth, so rich in comfort, to my trembling, grateful heart."

Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off thy guilty fears:
the bleeding Sacrifice
in my behalf appears:
before the Throne my Surety stands,
before the Throne my Surety stands,
my name is written on his hands.

He ever lives above,
for me to intercede,
his all-redeeming love,
his precious blood to plead;
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds he bears,
received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers,
they strongly plead for me;
forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Nor let that ransomed sinner die!

The Father hears him pray,
his dear Anointed One;
he will not turn away
the pleading of his Son;
his Spirit answers to the blood,
his Spirit answers to the blood,
and tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled;
his pard'ning voice I hear;
he owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear;
with confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence I now draw nigh,
and "Father, Abba, Father!" cry.

(Charles Wesley, 1742)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.