Mar
24
2010
A Prayer About Being Smitten with Jesus
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. Hebrews 13:9-10
Dear Lord Jesus, during this particular season of Lent, you’ve made me glad about several things. I’ve never been more grateful for the family you’ve given me. We’re a broken but beloved bunch—each of us is on the path of groaning and growing in grace. And I praise you for a handful of very good friends—a “gospel posse” with whom to share longings and laughter, bleakness and bounty, and the ruptures and raptures of life. We finally know how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, and not just provoke one another…
But, in particular, I find myself so thankful for the ways that you continue to open the eyes of my heart just to see more of you, Lord Jesus, for you are the author and perfecter of my faith. I can afford to be flexible about a lot of theological issues, but I can ill-afford to be wrong about you…
Over the past four decades, you’ve been so faithful to rescue me from all kinds of “strange teachings”… Such as different gospels, which are no gospel at all… from both grace-less legalism and obedience-less grace… from politicizing and romanticizing the gospel… from both dead orthodoxy and live heterodoxy… from both charisphobia and charismania… from arrogant imbalances and short-sighted nuances… from pragmatic formulas for micro-managing the Godhead and prayer-less passivity which trusts you for nothing. I’ve proven Luther’s dictum more than once: “Bad theology is the worst of all taskmasters.” But you’ve proven that you are a wonderful merciful Savior.
Lord Jesus, well beyond this current season of Lent, continue to smite my heart with more of your glory and your grace. I want to boast much more in your righteousness than in my being right. Strengthen my heart with your grace. Continue to feed me from the altar in the tabernacle of the gospel. Though I only know you in part, you know me perfectly, and that is enough. So very Amen, I pray, in your peerless and powerful name.