13 October 2023 Hearing the cry of war on TV is always frightening. It has been more than one and a half years since Russia invaded the Ukraine in February last year, with heavy casualties and disturbing scenes shown all over the media. It was heartbreaking. However, the war has not yet ceased and is currently at a stalemate. Unfortunately, it isn’t the only war happening right now. This weekend we heard the sudden cry of war again on TV. This time, Hamas launched an air attack on Israel on the 7th of this month, sending militants to invade Israel and causing a large number of casualties. Israel immediately launched a counterattack. There has been conflict in this region thousands of years. According to Bible, the two groups have an inextricable hatred. Over the last hundred years, the religious conflicts and cultural differences, coupled with territorial disputes, have created a spiral of hatred, and their conflict has continued year after year. Jerusalem is regarded as a holy place by many religions, including Christianity. Ironically, it has become a strategic arena for conflicts between different civilizations over the last thousand years. The Bible has long predicted that. According to Luke 21:24, Jesus said: "Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." This means that the land of Jerusalem will continue to be trampled down until the day when the Jesus Christ returns. God’s hand is in control of all historical changes. Even if Jerusalem will always face war, God will bless those who pray for Jerusalem: "Pray for peace for Jerusalem! Those who love you, O Jerusalem, will prosper!" (Psalms 122:6). In the past, God made a covenant with Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Genesis 12:3) We hope that people keep those affected by the war in their prayers. Dear Heavenly Father, Wars have broken out suddenly in different parts of the world, causing loss of life. Many innocent people have been forced to lose their homes and relatives. May God save those who are persecuted. May your strong arms embrace them and life them up. In the darkness, your light shines on them and guides them to find a way out. Let us learn to rely entirely on you with faith, and seek out your face in our helpless state. May God give the respective leaders wisdom and love so that they can make the right decisions in your will. Please protect those involved from harm. May God ease their pain and injuries. Please heal their wounds and comfort them, so that they can receive proper protection and care, and be completely healed from the inside out. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. With us being here in Hong Kong, we have the backing of our country, China, which allows us to live with freedom, love and care. However, this is not a given; we must appreciate it and be grateful for the life we have in the place we live. Throughout the week, we have witnessed the people of Hong Kong unifying to save a person’s life with mutual help and love, displaying a selfless side of Hong Kong’s spirit. Different organizations and hundreds of volunteers were invested in the rescue, and various government departments used everything in their power to search for him, even during the No. 9 typhoon signal and black rain. At the same time, we also saw how the strong vitality of the person was, helping him to overcome the crisis. Praise be to the Lord. It is when "hope", "faith" and "persistence" are mixed with each other that we can move forward. I am so moved that my eyes are red. Thank you God for giving us more than what we think of and ask for, and we must cheer for and be proud of the Hong Kong we live in. We may not be able to control where we come from, but as long as we always have the most humble attitude, the strongest persistence and selfless love, we will have a deep understanding of the saying “love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Best regards, |
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