Protecting unity and acting in love

Kia ora whanau,

Did any of you stay up to welcome in alert level 3 at 11:59pm last night? It felt like Christmas Eve, didn't it? Ok, maybe not a lot has changed (although some of you are able to physically go back to work). All of us are still confined, more or less, to our bubble. It makes Penny's words to us yesterday from Ephesians 4 quite relevant and challenging. Protecting unity and acting in love is easy when I get to do whatever I want whenever I want. It is another matter when we are living in each other's pockets without the option of escape. 'Lockdown Mark' is not always as awesome as 'Preaching Mark' (maybe neither of them are all that awesome🤔). Or it may be that you are just stuck with yourself without any chance of escape.

The hope of real transformation in Christ, however, is that we become the kind of people that have the character to joyfully do what is necessary and right (that which is kind and loving) regardless of our circumstances. This is the best version of ourselves and it is the one that God has destined for us. It is what the disciples of Jesus look like. We will become like Jesus. We will become the kind of people who are so filled up with and transformed by the love of God that we can be alone or with other people and still maintain our joy and act in love. We (individually and corporately) have an active role to play in that process, but it is ultimately a work of God's Spirit within us.

So, with still two more weeks (at least) of pretty tight restrictions, let's do what we can to put ourselves in a position to daily connect with that love.

Keep your eyes on Jesus

Mark.