A Prayer for Staying Teachable
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:24–26)
Patient Jesus, there are many things I love in this story. I’m so thankful that as with Apollos, so it is with us: we’re useful long before we’ve got every theological t crossed and every i dotted just right. Ultimately, it’s not how much we know but who we know that wins the day. I praise you for revealing yourself to Apollos and to me.
And, Jesus, I treasure the picture of a husband and wife offering hospitality and ministering the gospel together. The little I know of Priscilla and Aquila leads me to pray for marriages in general. Oh, that more of us would live as partners in the gospel, as cosaboteurs of the kingdom of darkness, rather than frittering our years away on less noble pursuits and passions. There are so many different story lines clamoring for our marriages— so many distractions and seductions. A marriage, just like singleness, is too precious a gift to spend on pettiness and nonintentional living. Bring more gospel sanity to our marriages, Jesus. Rescue us, resuscitate us, refresh us.
Lastly, Jesus, I’m convicted and drawn to Apollos’s teachability. Make and keep me that kind of man. I don’t want to suffer from “hardening of the categories” as I get older. Continue to explain to me “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26) through whomever you choose— children, PhD’s, married couples, my wife, saints of old long since in heaven— that’s your call, Jesus. Free me from my provincialism, prejudices, and presumption.
I’m hungry for you to expand my understanding and experience of life “in line with the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14 NIV), until the day when knowing in part gives way to worshiping you in full. I pray in your all-sufficient and glorious name.
Amen.