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(Matthew 24:3) “... you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

While the Media is once again busy psyching people up over the latest terrors in the Middle East, we should take to heart the words of our Lord Jesus. When speaking the above Scripture to us, He didn’t just empathise with people; He chose to demonstrate his sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others by allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to them ‘through Him.’ In fact, many times, He chose to go the 'extra mile' and 'co-suffer' with them.

So, instead of burying our heads in the sand of our own dilemmas and withdrawing from life with a hard-hearted ‘well it serves them right’ attitude, we who have been ‘born again’ of the Holy Spirit should instead demonstrate to a fearing world the power of GOD’s Peace and Compassion that is flowing in our lives.

These are living souls at risk, and many have never been introduced to or even told about the Life that can be theirs through God’s forgiveness in Jesus, the Christ of God.

There's a great line in a song called Hosanna: "Break my heart for what breaks Yours!" There used to be another song about how we’re supposed to be the hands and feet of Christ. Well, how about we are also called to demonstrate GOD’s Love when racism happens and suffer along with that particular community? Or when a disease outbreak occurs, we suffer with those families and bring the healing grace of the Holy Spirit into their distress? Or, when those around us are tired, lost, and confused, we suffer with them and bring the power of the Holy Spirit into their heart-breaking dilemmas?

Actually, this isn’t just a particular (if you've got time) request, either. We are commanded to do it - a command that hides a blessing for both the giver and the receiver.

(Colossians 3:12), “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Holy Spirit, please touch the heart of whoever is reading this. Draw them into Your presence and show them that You continue to speak and answer prayers today. Amen. 

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve those who are sick amongst us—such as Barbara and Ian fighting cancer. We also pray for a quick and full healing for Jay and Liliana. Please grant your healing power to those who minister to all the sick among us so they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.