Being in Cambodia this past week has reminded me of the harsh realities of history of the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot. Between 1975 and 1979, an estimate 1.5 – 3 million people lost their lives. Some died from starvations. Others were tortured and buried nameless in mass graves. Babies were held by their feet and swatted against tree trunks and their heads were shattered.
Just look at history. Look carefully around the world today. How much genocide have we tolerated and how much will we continue tolerating? These acts of extreme hate disgust us and we feel like we must helplessly and passively read about it. Sometimes we feel it’s better to ignore it. That feels better. But these were and these still are our sisters and brothers of humanity, made in God’s image. This is real.
How do we respond to such terror as followers of Jesus? He showed us radical love that was not passive. He was proactive and invested his life for the oppressed, even when it cost him his life. He left everything for their sake – for our sake.
If we pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” then how can we live out this prayer as the Holy Spirit empowers us to be agents of transformation? How can we truly bring good news to places of injustice, hate and brokenness in this world unless we step out in risky, dangerous, faith that may seem absurd to the world and even the Church?
God… Please burden our hearts for that which burdens yours. Give us your Spirit to bring radical love and reconciliation into places of extreme hate and injustice. Give us eyes to see these situations. Help us to use our hearts and minds and to act quickly on behalf of those you love both near and far.
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