The sins of our fellow Christians, their failures and their mistakes, are all opportunities and occasions for intercession. Let me put it quite concretely: when I fail as a pastor, I don’t need your condemnation or your indulgence. What I need is your support, and you give it best through your prayers. -- John Kleinig *Grace Upon Grace* p. 202
Pr. Weedon,
ReplyDeleteI just spent two weeks in Jakarta and had the privilege of working with a missionary there. I also happened to take "Grace Upon Grace" along to read. Dr. Klenig's chapter on prayer is so profound, and hit me even more deeply because of reading it while getting to know people in a country where Christianity is seriously persecuted.
I have often told someone I'd pray for them, or had someone say the same to me, and yet, I've had such a shallow understanding or appreciation for what that means. Sometimes I've said it because I can't think of any other way to help - almost like a consolation prize - when it's actually the best of God's gifts to us.
Dr. Klenig writes beautifully on the way prayer serves both the one praying and the one being prayed for.
Yes, yes, and yes. His insights were so tremendous in that chapter. Prayer IS the greatest gift and yet we treat it so shabbily! I am beginning to think someone should lock Dr. Kleinig up in a Wartburg Tower somewhere and make him write more and more. :) I've not read such a profound and good book (theological and so wholly practical) in years. I still have to finish the last chapter and am fretting that schedule won't allow much of digging into that for some time. Grr. Still, I'm savoring all I've learned so far - and trying to remember it all.
ReplyDeleteI've not read such a profound and good book (theological and so wholly practical) in years.I'll add a hearty "ditto" to that. It is a veritable spiritual goldmine.
ReplyDeleteChristine