"The Intercessor"
By Deb Glasscock
One cold and blustery day I looked out of my kitchen window and was surprised to see our rooster standing out in the hen yard. He is beautiful like the Kellogg's rooster and rules majestically over his little flock. Why is he out in the yard, I wondered, instead of warm and dry with the hens in their insulated and heat-lamped coop? I soon got busy and didn't give him anther thought. An hour later, I happened to glance out of the window again. I was shocked to see the rooster still standing there, blown by the blast of the arctic gale up against the fence. Could he be frozen? I wondered, as I pressed closer to the glass to get a better look. About that time I saw his head move a little, and it seemed that he made direct eye contact with me across the yard and through the glass. What could he be trying to tell me? I was sure they had plenty of feed and water inside the coop.
Not wanting to venture out from my own warm house, I walked away once more from the window then checked back again. He was still there! At this, I bundled up and felt the of the icy wind take my breath away, as I stepped out the door. Struggling against the wind, I made it to the henhouse and pulled the door open. Their automatic waterer bad been tipped over (I suspect by one top heavy young turkey who enjoys flying onto its top!) leaving them dry of water. I again braved the wind to carry a bucket of water and refill their waterer, around which the hens and, finally, the rooster gathered and drank thirstily. Returning to the house I thought about the rooster's courage. He was willing to stand, resisting the force of a mighty gale, to intercede on behalf of his thirsty flock. Do I do that? I thought.
I began to think of those God has entrusted to me family, friends, coworkers, church brethren, others he has placed before me. I felt that I had been weighed in the scale and found wanting. Would this rooster rise up on the Day of Judgment, I wondered, to condemn my lack of faithfulness as an intercessor? I could feel cold fear and guilt welling up in my heart, matching the weather outside. Conquering this fear, I turned instead and began thanking God and praising him for this illustration. I renewed a commitment to be diligent in my prayer for others. How funny, I thought, that God had used a barnyard cock to remind me of something important. I then remembered that this species had been used once before. How the crowing of the cock must have resounded in Peter's ears ever as a reminder that he could not trust his frail human spirit, but must totally rely on the power of God through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Amen