Warring factions

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.”James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fooling ourselves is something we do. In a fit of New Year’s resolution we will say: “this year I won’t eat junk, I’ll exercise more”. Yet, when we are stressed, we eat junk, when it is cold outside we don’t want to walk, run, ride our bikes, or swim. And so, we slip back into old ways.

People who are addicted to alcohol do this as do drug dependants, so do foodies. Our minds will create reasons we must stay where we are and so we do not change.

In spiritual matters we are blind to our habitual sins, others will see them, but unless we invited the Holy Spirit to reveal them they will stay hidden, and our religious traditions will satisfy us. Only the power of God will move us, and change us. 

Of late I have been dealing with the inclination to become angry. It happened again today. My flat mates in Nepal told me that our brand new washing machine, who I had allowed friends to use, was broken. I had not been told by the ones who had used it, and caused it to break. I know I am being tested. I have warring factions: on one side are my new flat mates, the other a ministry colleague. They do not get on as I would like, and I am caught in between their disagreements trying to lead them to godly ways of dealing with things. I know the enemy’s tactics. He is viciously trying to break things up, and I won’t have it. Continually the word of God must rule. There is life and power there, not in the flesh. Amen!