Into the Wind

What a blustery day we’re having!  It seems more like March than February.  The trash bin would be doing back flips if it still had a lid but that blew off last year!  We lost our electric power for about an hour this morning.  The house cooled off quickly because of the wind, so I was especially grateful when power was restored!  The birds are lying low until this passes but I find the occasional blue skies cheering.  While having my prayer time today, I observed a lone crow flying into the wind.  He must have had an important mission to endure such a buffeting.

As Christians, we, too, have an important mission.  Unfortunately, there are times when we must endure a buffeting from dark forces at work around us.  Even the Apostle Paul understood how difficult the Christian walk could be and wrote of our need for preparation in I Cor. 9:25-27;

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Rich recently attended a breakfast hosted by a local funeral director.  Each year, Mark invites the “clergy” from the area as a thank you for past business.  Indeed, all of us have made many visits to his funeral home in Camden – too many, it seems!  It is a good chance for R. to meet various religious leaders from the community.  Unfortunately, one is also exposed to many foolish, non-scriptural assertions in such a mixed group.  All the boasting of personal “spirit-filled” experiences made Richard eager to slip away as soon as it seemed courteous to do so, thanking his host for the breakfast.  In the meantime, Mark is further convinced in his belief that religion is “the opiate of the common people”!  And who can blame him when he is exposed to such imaginings?

As a follower of Christ, one can feel very alone in a world gone mad with pride over the traditions of men!  The Christian bookstores are filled with books promoting the latest fancies of men who are revered as religious leaders.  Yes, my friends, the winds of error are blowing strong across our land.  As God’s People, we must be prepared through prayer and diligent study to struggle against the prevailing winds;

Ephesians 4:13-14: …until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Stay close to The Master and He’ll give you the strength to keep flying into the wind!

Love in Christ,  Elaine