Gracious Heavenly Father, please do not let me become a man who speaks truth with my mouth while walking past sinners suffering with my eyes open. Do not let me hide a cold heart behind sound doctrine, busy ministry, or religious language. Crush the pride still in me that notices the great but ignores the broken.
Teach me to see what You see and love whom You love. Not the useful only. Not the impressive only. Not the people who can give something back. Teach me to stop long enough to notice the poor, the wounded, the forgotten, and the unwanted. The sinners that society scorns and puts outside the camp.
Do not let me become skilled in defending truth while becoming blind to mercy. Do not let me preach grace and live untouched by the perishing souls all around me. If my heart can hear the cry of the broken and remain unmoved, then something in me is terribly wrong. Have mercy on me, Lord this wretched man that I am.
Teach me to let the love of Christ pour out with my hands, time, finances, patience, sacrifice, and presence, not with words alone. Make me more like Christ, which is the aim of sanctification and discipleship. Oh God disciple me to not pass by the helpless, let me touch the unclean as you did, and welcome the despised, and weep with the grieving. Help me to impart myself to others as Christ gave Himself for sinners who had nothing to give back.
Let the love of Christ not merely be a doctrine to proclaim, but a life I reflect. Let the mercy I have received make me merciful. Let the grace that saved me bend me low before those this world has thrown away.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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