A Prayer About “Precious-ness”
In Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him (Jesus) will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. 1 Peter 2:6-7 Lord Jesus, when I hear the word “precious,” I immediately think about silver, gold and platinum, all called “precious metals.” Or I think about “precious gem stones”, like diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. For those are the primary treasures to which I’ve heard the word “precious” attached throughout my life.
But if anything or anyone deserves the appellation, “precious,” it is you, Jesus-God’s chosen cornerstone and precious capstone of our redemption. For all the precious metals and all the precious gem stones, or anything else the world calls “precious”, cannot begin to deal with the core issue of shame in my life.
Indeed, to trust in you, Jesus… to rest secure in your incomparable love, which surpasses knowledge; to wallow in your endless mercies and inexhaustible compassion; to marinate in your lavish affections and tender care; to know your great delight and ceaseless rejoicings-that of the perfect Bridegroom for a most unlikely bride… is to feel the stranglehold of shame lose its grip over my heart.
Along with my friends, I praise you, Lord Jesus, for taking the shame of our sin and the blight of our brokenness upon the cross. You knowingly, willingly and gladly became sin for us that in you we might be covered with, and actually become one Day, the very righteousness of God. Jesus, because of you, Judgment Day holds no terror. The cross was our Judgment Day.
We no longer have to fear the gaze of God because the grace of God has come to us fully and irrepressibly in you. Oh wonder of wonders, in you, Lord Jesus, we are now counted as precious to God as you are!
Our parting petition? Lord Jesus, become increasingly precious to us. Change the price-tags of the economy of our hearts. Through the gospel, may we, more and more, consider all things as rubbish compared to the excellency of knowing you… more importantly, being known of you. So very Amen, we pray, in your Name.