Archives – May, 2010
A Prayer About Rediscovering Discipleship
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Dear Lord Jesus, until I ate grilled, lightly buttered asparagus, I assumed all asparagus was as disgusting as the canned asparagus to which I was exposed as a child. I rejected a good gift of creation based on a horrid misrepresentation of the real deal. It occurs to me that maybe we’ve done the same thing with discipleship, and the result isn’t acceptable… in fact, it’s lamentable and repent-able.
As I meditate on these words which we call “The Great Commission,” I’m taken back to my days as a young believer when this command was largely reduced to gospel-less pragmatics. Discipleship was defined largely in terms of mastering a few disciplines… like daily “quiet times,” Scripture memory, learning how to defend the faith, and regular evangelistic conversations with non-believers. All four of these are really, really good things. But when I discovered the lyric and music of the gospel of your grace, this form of “discipleship” began to feel more like a doable strategy than a life-giving calling. It felt “canned.”
The problem is, I didn’t replace distorted discipleship with gospel-driven discipleship. I just enjoyed swimming around in the invigorating waters of your grace, and invited others to join the same pool party. Truth is… there IS such a thing a grilled, lightly buttered version of discipleship. The problem isn’t with the disciplines, but with the gospel which driving the disciplines. Growth in grace presupposes availing ourselves of the means of grace—the Scriptures, prayer, the sacraments, service… not that I’m telling you anything you don’t know, Jesus…
My prayer today is simply this: In my own life, and in the wonderful circle of people with whom I get to walk, work and interact… Jesus, show us what gospel-driven models of discipleship actually look like. Cynicism about what discipleship is not only generates more cynicism and flabby believers. According to you, disciples… committed learners and followers… are made, they don’t simply happen. So very Amen, I pray, in your with-us-to-the-end-of-the-age name.
Scotty Smith
Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship
Christ Community Church
1215 Hillsboro Rd.
Franklin, TN 37069
615-468-2230
It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9
May 30, 2010
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18
Dear Lord Jesus, I love words. I especially love the way you use words to bring me healing… wisdom… joy… encouragement… freedom… and hope. You will never shame me with words. You will never manipulate me with words. You will never hurt me with words. You alone have the words of life…
My prayer is so simple today, yet so necessary. Grant me greater stewardship of my words. Jesus, as you speak to me, please speak through me. It’s humbling to realize that you, who created the world with words, are pleased to bring healing to others through my mouth. It’s equally scary to realize I’m am capable of bringing a lot of decay and destruction by the same mouth.
Every day, in every conversation, I prove the reality of the proverb which teaches that words have the power of life and death (Prov. 18:21) I also remember you teaching me that my words are simply a reflection of what is filling my heart. Indeed, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)
SO, rather than just ratcheting up some will power to have done with all drivel, reckless words, gossip, flattery, inanity, irritation, coarse jesting, excuse-making, confidence-breaking, too many words, and many more expressions of death-speak… Jesus, fill my heart with your beauty and bounty.
So fill my heart with the truth, goodness and riches of the gospel that… more often than not… the first and greater percentage of syllables out of my mouth will bring healing, not harm. May my mouth overflow with words season with grace because my heart has been more fully filled with your grace. So very Amen, I pray, in your name and for your glory.
May 29, 2010
A Prayer About God’s Ownership of the Battle
It is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s. 1 Samuel 17:47
This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15
Dear heavenly Father, I love it when you’re selfish with things I don’t really want anyway. So I’m gladly reminded today that you claim ownership of any battle into which you place me. Though you call me into spiritual warfare and though you give me armor to wear (Ephesians 6:10-18), it is you that I must trust in as the Divine Warrior. You’re not calling me to be a disengaged passivist, but a fully engaged worshipper—beholding the salvation of the Lord.
Whether we’re talking about a mere skirmish or an all out assault from the powers of darkness, the battle belongs to you. Fear and discouragement are not the order of the day, faith and peace are.
When I’m afraid of events in world history—when it seems like evil and terror will triumph, once again, let me hear the laughter of heaven. Let me see your installed King, the Lord Jesus. Show me the occupied throne of heaven and it will shut up my fears. (Psalm 2)
When I’m under attack by the seducer, accuser and condemner of the brethren, once again, let me see Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Jesus, you have become all the wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption I need (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). My boast is in you, not in anything in me.
When I’m in the presence of evil people… keep me thinking, feeling and choosing with gospel sanity. When I’m in broken circumstances with broken people (which is most of life)… let me see Jesus more clearly than the storm and waves. When my own divided, duplicitous, easily-distracted heart wages war inside of me, give me confidence in your commitment to bring to completion the good work YOU began in me.
When the biggest and most fierce opposition… when the most present and garish enemy… when “hugest” and most daily battle is actually against all the non-gospels and anti-gospels with which this world is filled… keep showing me more and more and more of the glory and grace of Jesus. So very Amen, I pray, in his tender and triumphant name.
Scotty Smith
Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship
Christ Community Church
1215 Hillsboro Rd.
Franklin, TN 37069
615-468-2230
It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9
May 28, 2010
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20
Dear Lord Jesus, this portion of your Word is coming like a surgery scalpel this morning laser directed at an annoying mass in my heart. My encouragement is in knowing Who’s doing the surgery and to what end. Here’s my lament, my sincere confession and my repentance.
Sometimes what I call being “hard of hearing” is, more honestly, a case of my “hardly listening.” You’ve given me two ears and one mouth and the anatomical ratio is no mere accident. Today, I’m coming before you acknowledging my need to do a far better job of being quick and thorough in my listening. I make no excuses.
Jesus, I take my cue from you, because there’s no one who’s more quick to listen than you. I never have to snap my fingers to get your attention or to “reel” you back into focus. I never catch you looking away, as though you’re bored with me. I never have to repeat myself several times to make sure you heard what I really said. You never interrupt me. You never spin what I’m saying. You never “over-speak” when I’m trying to tell you something. There’s no one who listens so attentively, respectively and compassionately as you, Jesus.
I don’t need healing for deafness, but grace for listening deeply with the ears of my heart. First and foremost, I want to listen to you, Jesus. You’re always speaking, by the Spirit through the Word, and you alone have the words of life. What a foolish man I am not to be poised to hang onto every syllable of grace, mercy and peace you utter…
But I sincerely want to give my wife, my children and my friends the gift of being really heard. I really find no joy in unnecessarily frustrating the very people who love me so much. Bring the gospel to bear in such a way that I will become more notorious for my good listening than for my much speaking…
O what a humbling joy it is to confess specific sin to you today, Jesus, confident of your kind-hearted love… free from all condemnation… and expectant of your timely help. So very Amen, I pray, in the riches of your great name.
May 27, 2010
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14
Most wonderful and merciful, Triune God, I am finally quite at home in my finiteness and comfortably accepting of the limitations of my creature-liness. I’ve never been more appreciative of mystery and I’ve long since gotten over the illusion, make that delusion of a manageable deity.
My need isn’t to exhaustively understand the revelation of you as Trinity. But my unparalleled privilege is to humbly submit to your measureless generosity as a Triune God. So I gladly receive the apostle Paul’s benediction as your invitation, make that calling to me, to glorify you and enjoy your forever, including today.
Dear Lord Jesus, what more could I possibly desire for myself, and for all of my brothers and sisters in the faith, than for your grace to be with us today? It was by your grace I first received eternal life. It is by your grace I am being transformed to be like you. And it will be by your grace one Day I will enjoy the perfections of life in the new heaven and new earth with your beloved pan-national Bride. How I praise you for your saving, savory and sufficient grace.
Dear heavenly Father, what more could I possibly need today than the assurance and supply of your love? You’ve promised us, as your people, that we will never again be separated from your lavish affection, by anything. Because of the work of Jesus, you will never love me more than you do today and you will never love me less. This is my bold affirmation… make it my undoubted celebration.
Dear Holy Spirit, what more could I possibly long for today than fellowship with you? For to enjoy fellowship with you is to enter in to the rich life, communion, and joy of the whole Godhead. I no more presume on such an honor and feast, apart from your work, that I presume I have the ability to create a whole new universe.
Indeed… may your grace, Jesus… your love, Father… and your fellowship, Holy Spirit, be with us all day long. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and triumphant name.
May 26, 2010
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