A QUOTE, A TEXT AND A PRAYER… A shoe prayer from Pakistan
A QUOTE
“The search for God is, indeed, an entirely personal undertaking… the most audacious adventure that one can dare.” Alexis Carrel
A TEXT
8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,* not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.*
11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening* the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him. 2 Peter 3: 8-15a
AND A PRAYER…OR TWO
Lord, take the shoes off this Church
not only physically, outwardly, actually,
but inwardly also.
Lord, take the shoes off this Church –
the shoes of pride and fear, complacency
and factionalism.
Lord, take the shoes off this Church
that the quality of its worship
may touch the whole life of this people;
And, to this end, put the shoes on this Church
that it may go out to serve
all humanity everywhere, Lord. – A ‘Shoe’ Prayer from Pakistan
Pakistan has been much in the news recently. This prayer was written by John Carden, who was appointed CMS Asian Secretary in 1969 after nearly 20 years of living in Lahore. It reflects the courage, commitment and vulnerability of Christians for whom discrimination and even persecution are a daily reality – but who yet seek humbly to serve their communities.