When persecution drove believers out of their familiar territory, the early Christian Church spread in new directions. I wonder: will Christianity spread as Syrian Christians make their way into unfamiliar territory?
Using evil for good purposes–it’s such a God-thing.
Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.
I see parallels between my Foundation Studies on Nehemiah (see Rebuilding the Walls) and the situation in Syria.
Will the dispersed Syrians return to their homeland? Will God raise up a Nehemiah rebuild their infrastructure?
Your will be done in Syria, Lord, as it is in heaven.
Amen.
Decades past, Hubby and I were houseparents at a home for wayward boys. Sometimes a child would run off. When that happened, we tried to discern whether he was
A boy running away could be anywhere. Running to, we knew where to look.
I wonder if the Syrian refugees are running away or running to. If they are simply running away from danger, any safe place will do. If they are running to, is America their destination? If so, are they running to do us harm? Or are they running to a better life in a free land?
Discerning the difference, that’s the catch.
The terrorists shot innocent victims in a theater. And their deeds cast aspersions on all Syrian refugees, creating even more innocent victims.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Lord God, may we be cautious yet compassionate, guarded yet gracious, resistant yet realistic, watchful and wise. Amen.
I was praying for France, and Longfellow’s wisdom played through my thoughts:
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said:
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Christmas Bells, 1863
Well said, Mr. Longfellow. Amen.
We were careless with our garden gate. There was a gap, and a groundhog snuck through in the dark of night. He stripped our tomato plants. Bad groundhog!
Sometimes I am careless with the gates to my soul. There are gaps. Ungodly thoughts sneak through and strip away my fruit of the Spirit. Bad thoughts!
Dear Lord God, may the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Close the gaps in my gates. Amen.
For more on the gates of your soul,
read Lesson 3 in the Foundation Study
Rebuilding the Walls.
Proverbs 11:11 seems appropriate for Veterans Day:
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted.
To all you upright veterans who have exalted our nation through your service, THANK YOU.
The gates of Jerusalem were restored with wood from the king’s forest:
Nehemiah 2:7-8 (ESV)
Then I added this to my request: “If it please the king, give me . . . a letter to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber for the beams and for the gates of the fortress near the Temple, and for the city walls.
The gates of your soul are restored with wood from the King of king’s forest–the same wood used for the manger and the cross.
Do you have a gate?
A wall without a gate is useless.
The wall and gates of Jerusalem were destroyed. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall with rubble from its destruction. The gates were burned. New wood was required.
Nehemiah 2:7-8 (MSG)
Then I said, “If it please the king, provide me with . . . an order to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, to supply me with timber for the beams.”
Are gates of your soul approved by the the King of kings?
For more on the topic of godly gates. read Lesson 3 of Rebuilding the Walls.
