Gospel-Centeredness

March 18, 2008

Lar,

Great post brother. Discerning. You cut to the heart, everyone’s heart. That is always appreciated.

This post won’t be long, but I wanted to offer one thought that came to mind in regards to helping others become more gospel-centered, namely, pray with them.

Now, I don’t want to encourage others to make a show of their prayers or anything, but the reality is that one of the most powerful ways you can influence another is to pray consistently with them. You just can’t hide your theology in prayer. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. So if you are not gospel-centered, that will be readily apparent in your prayers in any situation or person. But if you are, there will be a different spirit about your prayers, a different sense. And even if those praying with you can’t put their finger on it, they will be influenced by it. So, what I mean in essence is that in order to help others grow in gospel-centeredness, pray gospel-centered prayers with them.

Again, we aren’t talking about showy prayers. They have to be genuine. But even if your understanding isn’t perfect (and who’s is?), you can still steer your prayers towards the gospel. Indeed, you ought to steer your prayers to the gospel. In fact, a primary way in which you yourself can grow in gospel-centeredness is by filling your prayers with the gospel itself.

Well, I said this would be a short post. So that is enough. May our prayers be filled with the good news of Jesus Christ, brother.