Serving the scholarly community
Lord of all, righteous judge who sees all as it truly is,
Today I face the reality of a commitment I made some time ago
to be servant critic of the work of some of your other children,
whose names and stories I may never know,
and who may never know my name.
Grant foremost that your name be known throughout this process—
that as we study the world you made we’d see the fingerprints of its Maker,
that as we communicate we would speak the truth in love even as we don’t know each other,
that whether my words be encouraging or critical that they would point their readers, somehow, to you.
Grant me the heart of a servant, working for your praise, not the praise of people.
Grant me insight and perception in this process,
not just for what is flawed, lacking, or suspicious,
but for what grace you have given to these researchers
as they have sought to understand your world.
Help me to see good in their work that they may not have seen themselves.
Grant me perseverance to follow through with this process to completion,
even when I’m unsure whether my understanding and perception are correct
or whether my words are accurate, constructive, or too harsh.
Use this quiet service to build our collective understanding,
to fan into flame the embers of promising ideas,
to purify and refine work that mixes gold and dross,
and to keep watch for what might seek to dilute truth.
Thank you that I’m not the ultimate judge of this work, yet alone the people who made it.
Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.`
And when I feel tired and discouraged by this work, remind me you’re here.