I find it ironic that on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's great 'I have a dream' speech, we are witnessing the prospect of an appalling nightmare developing in the Middle East.
King longed for the day when people would not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character. What we may well witness in the aftermath of a response to the chemical weapons attack in Damascus is that people in the already deeply fractured Middle East will no longer be judged by the content of their character, but by the label of their religious or ethnic affiliation.
Jesus warned his disciples, “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.' (Mark 13.12) We will see more of this
While many of the populations in Syria and beyond want nothing more than a decent life, free from oppression and injustice, they find themselves caught between brutal tyrants and religiously deviant terrorists, with both sides willing to do anything to keep or gain power.
Thus it was in the time of Jesus, which is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem. 'But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.” (Luke 19.41-44)
There are situations I encounter daily which could lead me to tears. People are trapped, and seem unable to see the way to deliverance. That is why I pray, 'Good Lord, deliver us', for in our weakness, I know from whom true deliverance may come. Will you pray too?
Best wishes,
Richard
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