My newsfeed the past few days has consisted of people changing their profile picture to the same photo, except with a washed out overlay of the French flag and "#prayforparis" underneath. That's all well and grand, but here's the thing.
I've seen this touched on here and there and there but last night I just felt SO convicted by the Holy Spirit that I need to write this (cheers to John for his open ears).
Hundreds and thousands of people are posting this "#prayforparis" all over the internet. I respect and understand that in today's society, social media has become the greatest platform we have to communicate (obviously, I mean this link will be on my own instagram twitter etc) but REALLY?? Has the compassion of humanity become so narrow and shallow that we have reduced our heart cry to a twitter trend?
How many of these people are really even praying? How many are on their knees? Crying out for the afflicted?
Is your heart truly broken for the lost? YES broken for the death of the innocent- we can but mourn for them- but the lost being those left behind here; families torn apart without hope. And for those who have mercilessly brought chaos and destruction needlessly- have you prayed for them?
We have become a society that would rather change our facebook picture than kneel before he who can actually do something about it. Rather than hashtag your social media so you're "friends" can see your "moral standards" why don't we get behind a closed door, turn the wifi off and hit the floor to meet with the Almighty? We need a collective amen here, people.
What's more (and this is something I've also seen touched on by several people) is the fact that in the preceding hours there was a double Suicide bombing in Lebanon where dozen were killed- where is the "publicity" for those lives? The war torn countries of Iraq, Syria, Turkey where all of this Islamic State conflict has originated is swept behind a curtain of ignorance and popularity simply because Britain is near France and we might actually know some of the effected. Do not misunderstand me, it is BECAUSE my heart is broken over the diabolic situation in Paris that I am writing this.
The people of France - and the rest of this corrupt world - need one thing: Jesus.
As humans, Sin has blinded us with our own corruption so that we cannot see we are bringing our own demise. By refusing to acknowledge who has the answer, we are looking at a locked box scratching our heads, when in fact there is a post-it on the box with an arrow pointing up the ways to where the key is but we're too damn stubborn to set our pride down and let the Almighty take control.
I'll say it again. We are all in need- Paris, Iraq, Japan with this earthquake that just struck, Baghdad, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, the US. We all need Grace. We, as the children of God, NEED to pray in unity for this corrupt, sin entangled, dying world and show them there is hope in Christ alone.
"Even now" declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart with fasting
and weeping and mourning.
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and compassionate; slow to
anger and abounding in love, and he resents sending calamity." Joel 2.12-13
France, as a European country, has known the hand of the Lord. They have known Hope, yet have turned away by their own choice. But those who are using their religion as a weapon are most in need of Grace.
YES, pray for Paris- That they would remember the Lord's gracious hand and turn to him for hope, peace and strength again. That they would turn from their carnal life and return to the open arms of the father. Only he will be enough to get them through this.
But IS and ISIS are in even more need of prayer. They have never known the love of God, and as obedient followers of Christ it is our duty to love indiscriminately because sin is indiscriminate and where sin abounds, so much more does love abound. Those who have never known Hope in Christ are so blinded by poisonous religious expectation that they cannot see the antidote of Grace. They need our prayers. They see this as publicity, but we should see it as a cry for hope.
I've seen this touched on here and there and there but last night I just felt SO convicted by the Holy Spirit that I need to write this (cheers to John for his open ears).
Hundreds and thousands of people are posting this "#prayforparis" all over the internet. I respect and understand that in today's society, social media has become the greatest platform we have to communicate (obviously, I mean this link will be on my own instagram twitter etc) but REALLY?? Has the compassion of humanity become so narrow and shallow that we have reduced our heart cry to a twitter trend?
How many of these people are really even praying? How many are on their knees? Crying out for the afflicted?
Is your heart truly broken for the lost? YES broken for the death of the innocent- we can but mourn for them- but the lost being those left behind here; families torn apart without hope. And for those who have mercilessly brought chaos and destruction needlessly- have you prayed for them?
We have become a society that would rather change our facebook picture than kneel before he who can actually do something about it. Rather than hashtag your social media so you're "friends" can see your "moral standards" why don't we get behind a closed door, turn the wifi off and hit the floor to meet with the Almighty? We need a collective amen here, people.
What's more (and this is something I've also seen touched on by several people) is the fact that in the preceding hours there was a double Suicide bombing in Lebanon where dozen were killed- where is the "publicity" for those lives? The war torn countries of Iraq, Syria, Turkey where all of this Islamic State conflict has originated is swept behind a curtain of ignorance and popularity simply because Britain is near France and we might actually know some of the effected. Do not misunderstand me, it is BECAUSE my heart is broken over the diabolic situation in Paris that I am writing this.
The people of France - and the rest of this corrupt world - need one thing: Jesus.
As humans, Sin has blinded us with our own corruption so that we cannot see we are bringing our own demise. By refusing to acknowledge who has the answer, we are looking at a locked box scratching our heads, when in fact there is a post-it on the box with an arrow pointing up the ways to where the key is but we're too damn stubborn to set our pride down and let the Almighty take control.
I'll say it again. We are all in need- Paris, Iraq, Japan with this earthquake that just struck, Baghdad, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, the US. We all need Grace. We, as the children of God, NEED to pray in unity for this corrupt, sin entangled, dying world and show them there is hope in Christ alone.
"Even now" declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart with fasting
and weeping and mourning.
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and compassionate; slow to
anger and abounding in love, and he resents sending calamity." Joel 2.12-13
France, as a European country, has known the hand of the Lord. They have known Hope, yet have turned away by their own choice. But those who are using their religion as a weapon are most in need of Grace.
YES, pray for Paris- That they would remember the Lord's gracious hand and turn to him for hope, peace and strength again. That they would turn from their carnal life and return to the open arms of the father. Only he will be enough to get them through this.
But IS and ISIS are in even more need of prayer. They have never known the love of God, and as obedient followers of Christ it is our duty to love indiscriminately because sin is indiscriminate and where sin abounds, so much more does love abound. Those who have never known Hope in Christ are so blinded by poisonous religious expectation that they cannot see the antidote of Grace. They need our prayers. They see this as publicity, but we should see it as a cry for hope.
Prayer is not approval of sin. It is in fact the opposite. We come in opposition of evil bringing our petition to him of the highest authority, the only one capable of changing a hard and blinded heart.
Islamic State are in desperate need of freedom, grace and love.
As Christians, we are to project love on every platform. Love is not ignoring someone's heart because their sin is greater by man's standards. You can drive a car through a window, or throw a brick through it. The point is, the window is broke. There is no scale when it comes to sin. God doesn't see a "1/10" or a "10/10"- he just sees sin.
Loving to win a heart means not desiring the same out come for those who have sinned as for those sinned against. Look at this through the eyes of Jesus. 1 John 4.20 says "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." I hate what they have done. I despise the evil in their hearts. I abhor the devastation they have so selfishly brought. But I love them because Christ loves them. And I will intercede for them because they need intercession.
Get on your knees and meet with the Lord. Only he is the rock.
#PrayForIslamicState
As Christians, we are to project love on every platform. Love is not ignoring someone's heart because their sin is greater by man's standards. You can drive a car through a window, or throw a brick through it. The point is, the window is broke. There is no scale when it comes to sin. God doesn't see a "1/10" or a "10/10"- he just sees sin.
Loving to win a heart means not desiring the same out come for those who have sinned as for those sinned against. Look at this through the eyes of Jesus. 1 John 4.20 says "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." I hate what they have done. I despise the evil in their hearts. I abhor the devastation they have so selfishly brought. But I love them because Christ loves them. And I will intercede for them because they need intercession.
Get on your knees and meet with the Lord. Only he is the rock.
#PrayForIslamicState