A Prayer about What It’s All About
For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Cor. 8:6 NIV)
Dear Lord, I’ve always appreciated people who are able to “cut to the chase” no matter what the topic is. Just give me an accurate summation and comprehensive distillation of the issue, and I’m good to go. The apostle Paul has done precisely that for me in this one remarkable verse of Scripture.
Truly, there is no other God but you, and with immeasurable kindness, you’ve chosen to relate to us as the Father from whom all fatherhood derives its meaning (Eph. 3:14–15). You’re not simply the best father there ever was, you are the quintessential Father. Everything comes from you—everything: my first breath, my next breath; my first heartbeat, my last heartbeat. You were a great Creator before you became a generous Redeemer. There’s nothing that I have that I didn’t receive from you (1 Cor. 4:7). It is for you that I live. I say this by faith, desiring an even greater manifestation in my life.
Truly, there is no other Lord but you, Jesus. You are the Christ, the promised and present Savior. Through you the Father created the world, through you he granted salvation, through you he’s sustaining all things, and through you he’ll complete his great story of redemption and restoration. It is through you that I live and move and have my being, Jesus (Acts 17:28). Autonomy is a pernicious myth, self salvation a demonic lie. I have been justified, I am being sanctified, and I will be glorified by faith alone (the faith you give me) and by grace alone (the grace you give me).
And God the Holy Spirit, I see these things, understand these things, and believe these things because of your powerful and persistent work. Though you are the most silent member of the Godhead, you are so very present. I pray today in Jesus’ peerless name, to the glory of the Triune God!
Amen.