Modern Psalms: Help me Lead People into Your Truth

“But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].” (Acts 20:24, AMP)

Hey Pops,

It’s been weighing on my heart that I’m not necessarily the best “evangelist” of your gospel. Sure, I post devotions, I serve at church, and I try to live my life to glorify you, but I think I mostly fall short. Am I quick to share your Word with my friends? With my family? And not just the synopsis that the world already knows: That you were born, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the grave to save us. I’m talking about something deeper, more mature.

Do I encourage my friends and family to seek out the true Gospel? 

Do I guard myself against false teachers and false gospel, asking God for a gentle discernment so I can help the people I know stay away from something that will weaken their faith or lead them down a path that doesn’t lead to you?

Do I have a boldness that shares you genuinely, in full truth?

Because the thing is, yes, my family and friends might have said a prayer once. They might go to church. They might read their Bibles. But do they listen to people and teachers that are theologically sound? Do they walk a path that leads to life-transformation through Jesus and assures their faith? God, how can I be a light for you that can shine the way for others to see the way into your presence? Because I know I have even listened to Youtube pastors and podcasts, read books from questionable sources, and constructed a warped view of you.

And more and more, those pastors, teachers, and churches I regarded as holy and wise less than five years ago, all seem to show colors that aren’t of you. A pastor I might have loved listening to in the car years ago is now puffed up in his own celebrity and preaches a God who is more genie than sovereign Lord. A church I attended when I was abroad and excited me in my spirit turned out to be smoke and mirrors, more corporation than a dwelling place for you to inhabit.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it. ” (Matthew 7:13-14, AMP)

Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes and showing me. Thank you, Lord, for bringing me out of a shallow gospel that was cheap and misleading. Thank you for showing me the right way and putting people in my life that really know you and want to build your kingdom without selfish motive. Thank you for helping me deconstruct those ideas I had of you that actually blurred my vision. Thank you for letting me see you through your Word, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

But now, my heart breaks for those I know that think they see you, just the way I thought I did. Of course, I want to reach the lost that have yet to know you, but my heart is heavy for the people who have been lulled into a false salvation, mistaking you for something you’re not. 

Help me to be like Paul, someone who counted His own life as worthless, drawing value from Kingdom work– not done looking for a blessing, recognition or applause, but done in the name of finishing the course of the ministry that God ordained for my life and finishing it well. Help me to have a discernment that lovingly helps those I love to stay away from misleading teachers and messages.

Use me as a way to help them back on the narrow path, because truly, it is narrow. It’s more narrow than just doing good things and praying during altar time at church. And there are sharks out there who use you as a marketing ploy to sell books, tapes, and memberships but are empty of your Spirit. Show me the words to lovingly show people back to you. 

Because you are more than a social media metric. You are more than a marketing tool, an ATM, or a genie. You are not a manifestation, self help, or life coach tactic. You are God. You didn’t have to save, and yet chose to anyway. You could have turned your back on me, but instead, you drew nearer and have hedged me onto the narrow way that leads to you. Help me to be someone that helps others find this narrow road, and use me to beckon them out of the things they’ve taken as gospel and lead them into your Spirit and Truth. 

I know, at the end of the day, I can’t do anything in my power. I can’t lead anyone to salvation, only you can; but maybe, you can speak a word or reach out your hand through me in order to draw others to yourself.

Break my heart for what breaks yours, and help me to be bold enough to shine your light and share your Word to people that are viewing you through a clouded, blurry lens. 

Only you save, Lord. Only you can turn a man's heart to you to see genuine gospel. So today, I stand in the gap for my friends, family, and even people who I don’t know. I ask you to peel off their blinders that have kept them from seeing you in your fullness. Help them to turn away from comfortable, false gospel and the phony teachers that peddle it.

I love you, Lord, and I realize that I could never have turned away from the faith I constructed on my own without you to lovingly lead me away. You are awesome.

Love,
Cortney