In The Clear

An ancient Arabic proverb says “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” When we were kids my sisters and I fought like cats and dogs but if someone said something mean about our family, we suddenly found ourselves on the same side because we had a common enemy. I’m sure this is relatable in other families, sporting teams, churches and pretty much anywhere you find a group of people living in community. The fight against Covid-19, a common enemy of all humanity, a crisis that has killed, suppressed and challenged human society, should have resulted in an increase in peace. As nations, societies, families and individuals grappled in a fight for survival, we naturally would expect to see a reduction in violence across the world. In March the UN called for a global ceasefire, a move backed by 170 states and other religious and peace-building organisations. Sadly, even in places where people supported the call for peace, there have been little or no reductions in violence. Some places like Afghanistan and Syria were already seeing declines in violence before the pandemic. In places like Yemen and South Sudan, armed violence has continued and, in some cases, even intensified. What hope for peace can there possibly be if something as devastating as a global pandemic is unable to bring humanity together? The only hope humanity has is found in the realisation that God came to earth as a little baby, born to bring peace to the hearts of all people. James 4:1 explains that conflicts come about "because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves." There are inner turmoils that drive the outer conflicts of our lives. These inner turmoils, stresses and shame can be put in perspective or eliminated by the acceptance that, having lived as one of us for three decades, God died for each one of us. True peace will descend on our lives when ALL people realise and accept the reality of Christmas. In the meantime, we continue to tell the truth of Christmas and invite everyone who hears it to reassess how they live their lives.

Scripture References: Matthew 1:18-25

From Series: The Weight Of Christmas | More Messages from Phil Inglis | Download Audio

From Series: "The Weight Of Christmas"