LORD, keep us in your paths.

/ pukeko

Yesterday ended up being interesting. The plan flight was delayed to the point where we arrived in Auckland to a closing terminal. All the rental car booths were shut. A half hour later, we had walked to the international terminal and got a taxi to my parents, and this morning we need to pick the car up.

And yes, I was angry. A robot I am not. At this time of the year one should not expect anything to go smoothly.

And this applies to the church also. We are a collection of apostates and we tend naturally to error and heresy. But what are we to do? And the answer is not one we will like. We are not allowed to give up, instead we need to be self disciplined and ready.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

(Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV)

There are two things that I need to reflect on here. One is being righteous, and not wallowing in the sewer of my emotions, as if that would give me power over them. Love and leadership is not about power but restoring the people who you love and helping those you do not live but have to interact with, and this requires self-control.

And the second is prayer. If you are unrighteous, your prayers dry up. Without prayer we cannot stand against the spirit of this age. This includes praying for each other: and when I talk to my Dad, over breakfast, and he mentions that he prays for this or that person it shames me, for he is far more faithful in this than I am.

And we need to continue to work on keeping ourselves armed. As a soldier cleans his weapons first, then we also need to keep ourselves spiritually straight.

So LORD, keep us all in your paths today. Let your Gospel be proclaimed by what we do.