Gore: praying in His name

Tuesday, January 17, 2017
    Feast of Antony of Egypt, Abbot, 356
    Commemoration of Charles Gore, Bishop, Teacher, Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932
Meditation:
    Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
    —John 14:13 (ESV)
Quotation:
    Many people have a very strangely childish notion, that “praying in the name of Christ” means simply the addition of the words “through Jesus Christ our Lord” at the end of their prayers. But depend upon it, they do not by adding these words, or any words, bring it about that their prayers should be in the name of Christ. To pray in the name of Christ means to pray in such a way as represents Christ. The representative always must speak in the spirit and meaning of those for whom he speaks. If Christ is our representative, that must be because He speaks our wishes, or what we ought to make our wishes; and if we are to pray in the name of Christ, that means that we are, however far off, expressing His wishes and intentions.
    ... Charles Gore (1853-1932), The Sermon on the Mount [1910], London: John Murray, 1905, p. 132-133 (see the book)
    See also John 14:13; Matt. 7:5; 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 15:16; 16:23,26-27; 1 John 5:14
Quiet time reflection:
    Help me, Lord, never to speak Your Name in vain as I pray. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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