The Middle East Rebellion – Chosen People or Rebels Against God?
Enjoying Spiritual Privileges In The Middle East should be a “given” – instead it seems to be nothing but war, disruption, rebellion, hatred, and anger toward all things “Christian.”
When God spoke in the Old Testament – he was speaking of the peoples of the middle east. When He spoke things like – being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood or .. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession who did all that include? In 1 Pet. 2:4-10 .. You are the people of God, You have received mercy .. Peter surely was not talking to Westerners was he?
If you were able to ask someone from The Middle East about Jesus of Nazereth – you’d likely hear something like – I don’t believe in Jesus of Nazareth ( لا أعتقد أن في يسوع الناصري ) .. and if you were to press farther and ask – “Please tell me about the Jesus God you don’t believe in.” ( من فضلك قل لي عن يسوع الله كنت لا أعتقد في .. you might get words describing – a vengeful, unfair, arbitrary cosmic God who delights in watching the middle east stumble through life in search of meaning and direction. وانتقامية وغير عادلة والتعسفية الله الكونية الذين المسرات في مشاهدة منطقة الشرق الأوسط من خلال الحياة تتعثر .. After listening to that portrayal of God .. a westerner might say – I don’t believe in that God either.
Most people have a warped view of Jesus of Nazareth because they can’t see beyond their circumstances and the conditions that plague our fallen world. Their distorted world view keeps them from understanding God’s goodness and mercy through His Son, Jesus. But we as believers understand because we see beyond the physical realm and experience His grace and kindness in many ways .. especially in our western civilization. We Believe Scripture speaks pointedly about the duties and responsibilities of Christians, but all of that is balanced by the rights and benefits that we have in Christ Jesus, and in writing to Christians who were experiencing severe persecution, the apostle Peter reminded them of their privileges and called them to praise God for His abundant grace (1 Pet. 2:9). That is our calling as well.
Let us all consider many of those privileges, including our union with Jesus of Nazareth – Our access to God the Father, His priestly role, Our spiritual security, election, dominion, and inheritance resulting from The shed blood of Jesus. The implications of them all are staggering and should be a source of great joy and thanksgiving as you study them .. read them .. in God’s Holy Word.
Maybe some things to pray about this week ..
• Thank God for the privilege of being His child. Not a Muslim or an ISIS fighter – yet to seek Wisdom and Understanding ..
• Pray that Jesus would strengthen and encourage us all with the truths we read and hear from The Bible.
• Regardless of our circumstances, learn to focus on God’s glory and grace, allowing them continually to fill our hearts with praise and worship – especially this 4th of July.
For Further Study: Read 1 Peter 1:3-9 and 2:4-10.