A Prayer About Open-mindedness
Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he (Jesus) opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:44-47
Lord Jesus, I’ve always considered myself to be a pretty “open-minded” person. Yet as I once again ponder this remarkable scene recorded in Luke’s gospel, I remember how long I wasn’t very open-minded about the most important thing-and that is, seeing everything written about you throughout the Bible.
My joy today is humbly to count myself among those whose minds you are opening to see more and more and more of you in every book of the Bible. My prayer today, for myself and for others, is for an even greater open-mindedness to understand all things written about you and fulfilled by you in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.
For way too many years, Jesus, I primarily related to the Law as a bunch of rules and principles by which I could earn more blessings from God and micro-manage my life for greater success. I read the Prophets with a fear of judgment, and with more intrigue about the future of Israel than an eye to see the great promises of your Person and work as the Messiah. I’ve always loved the Psalms, but until recent years, I read them more with an appreciation for King David than with adoration for you, King Jesus.
Lord Jesus, help me, help all of us, to see and understand that what has been written throughout the Scriptures testifies to the riches of the gospel-your death and resurrection for us, repentance and forgiveness of sins given to us, and heralded through us to our neighbors and the nations. So very Amen, we pray in your name, Jesus-the name above every name, the name at which, one Day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord, to the glory of God our Father.