143. Travel Mercies
Deuteronomy 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
We pray for travel mercies whenever we are traveling by car or airplane; and we should do so when we just walk or go about anywhere by any means. We pray for God’s protection and blessing wherever we go and however we get there. We are always coming or going. The good news is that we will be blessed both ways. The truth is that the believer in Christ is always blessed and protected, for He is always with us and He always commissions His angels to guard and protect us in all our ways.
As always, these blessings of the Mosaic Covenant are in force if we obey the Ten Commandments. Keep the Law of God and God will bless. God blesses because He is a gracious and good God: He has laid out for us in the Scriptures the way we need to walk through life in order to enjoy a good life. It may sound strange, but the Lord has blessed us with His laws; for the Law is a blessing; however, it depends on our keeping, observing and obeying. Being blessed in all our ways is not a reward for being good. It just is. Blessing for living right is built in to the created universe. Of course, the opposite is also true: curses come upon us and overtake us when we disobey, disregard and neglect God’s Laws. Blessings and curses are consequences, not rewards and punishments. It just is.
It is good, right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places and in all the in between times and places pray for travel mercies and thank Him every time we come and go safely. But let’s be honest, we are not going to pray and give thanks every time we rise up, settle down, go or come. But God promises to be there for us always wherever and whenever, even if we forget Him. He goes with us whenever we get up and go anywhere, unless we are heading into sinful territory (trespassing). When we remember God’s promised blessings we are free to go about our lives and enjoy every moment of moving about, coming or going.
We keep our relationship with God alive and fresh, not by attempting to be good but by regular repentance and faith in the gospel. Christ keeps the Law for us, and the blessing follows. We ask God for blessing on our travel to remind us that He promised. We thank God for blessing on our return to remind us that He promised.