Prayer To Stop Looking For Loopholes And To Have Strength To Do The Right Thing

 Looking For Loopholes

For centuries people have looked for loopholes – people look for loopholes in the tax code in order to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.  Others look for loopholes in the law so they can commit crimes and never have to pay for them. In recent times some folks have spent time looking for loopholes in the health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to get out and about and enjoy life as they used to.

Earlier folks were using what was called the “Alaska loophole” to enter and vacation here in British Columbia.  We’ve seen lots of pictures of the park near the Peach Arch border crossing between Canada and United States where loved ones separated by the border closure have tried to use a loophole to see one another during these long months of isolation.

Just this week Dr. Bonnie Henry, our chief medical officer here in British Columbia urged all of us during her daily media briefing to listen to the intention behind health orders meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 instead of trying to find loopholes. She asked us to put public health safety measures at the top of their priority list every day so we can flatten our curve of cases. “Instead of thinking ‘how can I find my way around this?’ think ‘how can I stop the spread?'” she said.

A loophole is way we try to gain an unintended advantage so we can get benefit but it requires doing or avoiding doing the opposite of what is requested.

We all deal with this sort of thing when we try to compromise God’s word for whatever attitude or behaviour we want to hang onto.  We can’t rationalize our way through bad behaviour by naming all the good behaviours we’ve had.  Sin is sin and the result of sin will still be death until we receive the forgiveness of God.  Whether it’s greed or gossip, pride or promiscuity there’s all kinds of loopholes that people try to give themselves for not coming humbly God for forgiveness and transformation.

Loving God, we are grateful for Your grace that offers salvation to all of us.  You know what is right and what is harmful and so we thank You for Your Word that teaches us what to say “no” to and how to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.  Titus 2:11-12

These are such strange times when so many practices that go against Your word are not just practiced but are actually held up as good and the things You teach us are declared hateful and harmful.  Our society has taken looking for loopholes around Your law to a level we’ve not seen before in our time.  Give those of us who say we are Your followers the grace to not be conformed …

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

Lord, regardless of what we do or don’t do, how we obey Your ways or don’t, what You say is what stands. 

Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.  Psalm 119:89

Forgive us for our arrogance that thinks we know better than You and that You need to change with the times rather than us being changed and protected by Your holy Word that describes the only way of life that exists.  You warn us in Your Word and we want to heed the warning when it says:

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Galatians 6:7-8

So give us grace and strong backbone to stand for what is true no matter how much the tide turns in our society.  Work in us so we leave looking for loopholes behind and follow You with all our hearts.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Psalm 139:23-24