Thoughts for another day

December 26, 2008.

Today's verse: Mt. 2:13. Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; (NRSV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Do I daresay, I ask the Lord permission, the first crisis Christ experienced came through the visit of the Magi, at which time, I guess, the doors of salvation were opened to the gentiles too. They came so that they could pay Him homage and give Him glory. Little did they realise that they would be walking into the enemy camp and in declaring their intent to the agent of satan, cause the massacre of innocent children. Even the King of glory, in that small helpless ‘baby’ form chose to escape after being advised by the angel, from the horror to befall babies born at that time.

Such is the story of the Christian. The moment God is glorified, the ruler of the world, is terribly displeased. He starts attacking and many innocent are killed and maimed. We have seen the same thing happening even today. In a particular city some time back, a group of people, praised and glorified the King unceasingly with their whole hearts. God destroyed the root of evil that day itself, but a price was to be paid. The very next day, innocent Christians were burnt, killed, tortured and thrown out of their houses and all kinds of injustice was inflicted on them.

But, are we as Christ’s followers, to be afraid? No not at all. In the coming of Christ, we have found new meaning and purpose for our lives. His life has become for us, a symbol of hope and future glory. And if He the Most High, the God of glory thought it fit to run away, so should we for a while. Then we are brought back by God to the very place we ran from to love and forgive and sow the seeds of peace in the land where the blood of our brothers and sisters was spilt. This is both our fate, our responsibility and our high privilege.