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mmmm micah 5 mmmm

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mmmm Celebrating Christmas with Festive Food from All Nations mmmm

Sydney is enjoying sunny days and warm weather in the first month of Summer.

Perfect for Christmas parties with family, friends and colleagues.

We in the Western World are extremely fortunate to celebrate in peace and freedom.

Unfortunately not everyone on Earth lives freely or peacefully.

Let us remember the victims of terrorism and persecution.

Earlier this week, a Christian Church in Pakistan was bombed by IS terrorists [1]:

A sad & constant reminder that innocent Christians still face persecution this Christmas.

Recently, President Trump announced that the USA recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital [2].

This provocative statement sparked immediate protests across the world [3].

Even Bethlehem (in Palestinian territory) was the scene of violent protests [4].

What’s so special about Bethlehem?

Bethlehem was the birthplace of the Messiah* as prophesied by Micah in the Bible:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.

Micah chapter 5, verses 2 & 4 (5:2,4)

*Messiah (translated as Christ in the New Testament):
A future king of Israel descended from King David (former shepherd and author of Psalm 23).

This verse is quoted in Matthew – the 1st book in the New Testament [5].

The famous Christmas story reveals that Jesus was born in Bethlehem [6].

The 3 Wise Men asked King Herod, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews?” [7].

King Herod asked the Jewish chief priests and the teachers of the law [8].

They replied, “Bethlehem” and referred to Micah’s prophecy quoted above [5].

The 3 Wise Men travelled to Bethlehem in search of the Messiah [9].

When they found Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped him [10].

The New Testament clearly identifies Jesus as the Messiah.

Matthew begins with a genealogy linking Jesus with King David [11].

This family tree traces the ancestors of Jesus all the way back to David and Abraham.

Jesus identified himself as the Good Shepherd looking after sheep [12].

This bears striking resemblance to Psalm 23 and the Micah prophecy above.

Jesus said that he was willing to die to protect the sheep [13].

Jesus did actually die on a cross to bring salvation for the whole world.

So the Christmas story is not limited to the Jewish people in Israel.

Christmas is Good News for everyone in every nation on Earth!

God loved the world & gave us Jesus so that we may have Eternal Life [14].

The promise of Salvation is what persecuted Christians cling to.

God’s love shown through Jesus gives comfort to those who are suffering.

The hope of Eternal Life reminds us that life on Earth is only temporary.

Whatever pain we’re currently experiencing will not last forever.

The joy of Christmas is knowing that we’re on the journey to our real home.

Our real home is with Jesus in the New Jerusalem – the heavenly city [15].

The earthly Jerusalem is currently divided and a flashpoint for conflict.

This city is being bitterly fought over by the Israelis and the Islamic world.

The REAL Jerusalem is in Heaven with Father God where there is eternal peace.

What do you hope for this Christmas?

Are you looking for Peace in a world of terrorism and war?

Have you discovered the Joy of Salvation available exclusively from Jesus?

For followers: do those around you know about the Good Shepherd you trust?

 

Footnotes:

[1] SBS News (17/12/17): IS claims deadly pre-Christmas suicide bombing of Pakistan church

[2] BBC News (06/12/17): Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, says Donald Trump

[3] Reuters (10/12/17): Anti-Trump protests in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco & Indonesia

[4] NBC News (07/12/17): Tear Gas fired at Palestinian protesters in Bethlehem

[5] Matthew 2:6

[6] Matthew 2:1

[7] Matthew 2:2

[8] Matthew 2:4

[9] Matthew 2:7-10

[10] Matthew 2:11

[11] Matthew 1:1-17

[12] John 10:11-16

[13] John 10:11 & 15

[14] John 3:16

[15] Revelation 21-22

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mmmm jeremiah 22 mmmm

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mmmm Cake and Coffee on beautiful sunny mornings mmmm

Sydney has enjoyed stunning sunny weather even in the middle of Winter:

Perfect for cake and coffee with friends and family at outdoor cafes everywhere.

We in the Western World are extremely fortunate to live in peace and freedom.

Unfortunately not everyone on Earth lives freely or peacefully.

Let us remember the millions of refugees fleeing war and terrorism.

Let us remember the asylum seekers trapped in detention.

Let us look at what God thinks of these “aliens”:

This is what the LORD says: “Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien*, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”

Jeremiah 22:3

*Alien also translated as Foreigner – a stranger/outsider from another country

 

God commanded Jeremiah to tell this message to the king of Judah.

Jeremiah lived approximately 600 years before Jesus.

God warned Judah that they faced judgement if they did not repent (turn back to Him).

Included in this judgement is a message of special care for the disadvantaged.

God showed His justice towards aliens, orphans, widows and victims of robbery.

The king and his people were to treat these poor people with fairness.

They were not to act violently or wrongly towards the alien.

Similar messages are repeated elsewhere in the Bible (see Psalms, Zechariah & James).

The principle of justice and fairness still applies today as we consider refugees.

 

My friends and I are shocked at Australia’s treatment of refugees.

Australia detains refugees offshore in neighbouring foreign countries.

Refugees on Nauru and Manus Island have experienced violence and injustice**.

Since 2001, racism and xenophobia have increased in Australian society.

Politicians have taken advantage of this “fear of foreigners/aliens”.

Harsh policies towards “boat people” have sadly become popular with voters.

Australia is a rich and affluent country with plenty of space to share.

Instead we Aussies have lost our compassion and become selfishly insular.

What happened to the Aussie concept of a “fair-go” for everyone?

Obviously the “fair-go” does not apply to refugees in our current society.

Aussies prefer to ignore what is happening on Nauru and Manus.

 

In January 2017, the Australian Prime Minister phoned to congratulate the USA President.

President Trump had just been inaugurated after winning the 2016 Election.

This was the first phone call between Australian and USA leaders.

The transcript of this call was leaked to the Washington Post in August 2017***.

This shocking transcript reveals our leaders’ callous attitude towards refugees.

They are dealing with “actual real human lives”, not commodities that can be traded.

Understandably Trump is unhappy with this “dumb deal” (see his Twitter account).

Australia should NOT be exporting our refugees to USA.

The refugees on Nauru and Manus are Australia’s responsibility, not America’s.

#BringThemHere to the Australian mainland immediately.

 

For followers, how can you demonstrate God’s love towards refugees?

 

Footnotes:

**On the day I posted this blog (7th August 2017), it was reported that a 5th refugee died on Manus Island and fellow detainees say that it was not suicide.

***The leaked transcript from the Washington Post was republished on the SBS News website (Australia) 4th August 2017.

Additional reporting from SBS News linking the leaked transcript & the refugee death on Manus Island: Was Donald Trump right? 8th August 2017

 

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