Continue to Reveal Yourself

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for My Foolish, Slow Heart

     And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27

Dear Lord Jesus, of all your post-resurrection appearances (1 Cor. 15:3-7), I treasure the visit you paid disheartened friends on the road to Emmaus the most (Lk. 24:13-35). That you met with a shattered and shamed Peter was incredibly healing. And your appearance to the apostle Paul, who, in his own words, was unworthy of even being called an apostle, marked him forever. All of us have enjoyed the fruit of that visitation through Paul’s life and writings.

But I love how you came alongside the Emmaus men, for I am so much like them. I am a foolish, slow of heart man who constantly needs you to preach the gospel to my heart by the Holy Spirit. How I praise you for your tender forbearance, unlimited patience, and grace-full persistence.

As you dealt with my brothers, so deal with me. Continue to reveal yourself as the main character and hero in all the Scriptures. Lord Jesus, don’t let me read the writings of Moses without thinking about you—especially the law. May Moses’ words always drive me to you. For you have fulfilled the demands of the law for me, and you are now fulfilling the beauty of the law in me. I don’t want to forget that good news, even for a nanosecond, lest I lapse into graceless guilt or performance-based pride.

And continue to show me how you are fulfilling everything the prophets have spoken—not just the things concerning your sufferings on the cross and your resurrection from the dead, but also all the promises of your present work in the world as a redeemer and restorer.

May a vision of your present reign and coming kingdom give me “redemptive heartburn,” like that which you ignited in the hearts of my Emmaus brothers. Indeed, continue to open the Scriptures to me, until the Day you return to finish making all things new, Lord Jesus. So very Amen I pray, in your holy and transforming name.