Stand Strong

"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. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" ( Ephesians 4:14-16 NIV).

Some days I feel like a weak Christian. I allow my emotions to take the steering wheel and I end up all over the road. Driving recklessly through trials and challenges and forgetting all the basics of strength and safety. When I allow my human thoughts to wander away from the teachings of God my actions are sadly inappropriate and misdirected.

There are times when my physical body is frail, too, and I feel like I can't stand up against the powerful winds that confront me. Sometimes the wind is just too strong and I find myself leaning into the force, barely moving one foot in front of the other. It would be easier to just stay inside of the shelter, huddled down waiting for the wind to die down.

When we keep our focus on Jesus, the head of the body, we are able to stand strong and function fully in love. God expects nothing less of His people and He is always beside us giving us the strength we are lacking.

I think of the Christians who were gunned down at the Oregon community college last week. And I wonder if I would have stood strong in that same situation. Truly they are martyrs of faith. Lord God, be my backbone of faith, in all that I do, help me stand strong by keeping my eyes on you.