Poster Archive : August 2013
Message:. God Loves Boat People
It's so easy to get caught up with our busy lives and to feel overwhelmed by all that we have to get done. We rush and stress and worry about so many things.
But in the cold, hard light of day, so many of our problems are 'First World Problems'... losing the mobile phone, getting an appointment with the hairdresser, missing out on those tickets, even refinancing the mortgage. If we had no possessions and no home, if surviving was our every thought, then these problems would look very much like luxuries.
We live such comfortable lives in such a wonderful country. And the overwhelming numbers of people in the world living with poverty and persecution can seem so far away and irrelevant to us. It's easy to think of those people as different to us, 'less equal' somehow.
Right now Australia is struggling with the problem of people wanting to come here without a visa. They are coming by boat and in the process hundreds are drowning. Whilst we may question the decision of adults to get into unseaworthy boats, very often there are children losing their lives as well.
God loves boat people. That's because God loves everyone. We are all equal in his eyes. Whatever country we're born in, whatever colour our skin, even the size of our property portfolio - God created us all equal.
Jesus was such a wise teacher. He knew the human heart and he knew how we should live together. He said;
"Give to everyone who asks you and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."
These are such profoundly beautiful words. Words that we would all be proud to live by. Yet the further we're removed from other people the harder it is to consider their needs, the harder it is to sacrifice what we have for the good of another.
Perhaps a small nation like ours can't solve the world's problems. But where we are able, we should assist people as well as encourage other nations by our example. At the very least, we must do all that's possible to prevent so many people dying in our nations waters.
There is no easy solution to the trafficking of people via boats. And our country's leaders have a great challenge on their hands. But surely the first step is to do to them what we would have them do to us.
Prayer:. Dear Father, Thank you for the many blessings you have given us here in Australia. Help us to always be thankful and generous. Amen
Bible Verse: . "Give to everyone who asks you and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:30-31)
