Sunday, December 26, 2004
There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? ] I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem?
I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Luke 13:1-5
Being in a disaster isn't necessarily punishment from the wrath of God (although God has used catastrophe and war from time to time); but one of the things it needs to remind us of is that we need to be like the vigilant servant, who is always ready to meet his master, any time of the day or night.
The recent disaster in Indonesia is a great example of this. There will be some seeing the hand of God writ large, and others who think that that is nonsense. On this side of eternity, it is very hard to know definitely! But our response is clear - to be the hands and voice and heart and mind of a loving God, his living witnesses, to be there with prayer and aid and help and support.
Let us remember to pray for those lost,
to pray for the families who wait, unknowing and anxious, to learn the fates of their loved ones,
to pray for the rescue workers, who have the dark task of gathering and looking for the living and the dead,
for the aid providers, that they may be able to gather resources and get them to the areas needed in a timely way,
and to all of us who God is calling to do his work.
Amen.
And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? ] I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem?
I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Luke 13:1-5
Being in a disaster isn't necessarily punishment from the wrath of God (although God has used catastrophe and war from time to time); but one of the things it needs to remind us of is that we need to be like the vigilant servant, who is always ready to meet his master, any time of the day or night.
The recent disaster in Indonesia is a great example of this. There will be some seeing the hand of God writ large, and others who think that that is nonsense. On this side of eternity, it is very hard to know definitely! But our response is clear - to be the hands and voice and heart and mind of a loving God, his living witnesses, to be there with prayer and aid and help and support.
Let us remember to pray for those lost,
to pray for the families who wait, unknowing and anxious, to learn the fates of their loved ones,
to pray for the rescue workers, who have the dark task of gathering and looking for the living and the dead,
for the aid providers, that they may be able to gather resources and get them to the areas needed in a timely way,
and to all of us who God is calling to do his work.
Amen.
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