universality

Monday January 14^th, Isaiah 43:  5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- Let’s be honest.  There are many places in the scriptures where the word of God is distorted with personal or tribal or national ambitions, and the image presented is one of one group of people being saved at the expense of others.  These are often written by well-meaning children of God who grasps God’s grace, but fail to see the magnitude, the universality, of it.  Imagine if you will all of God’s creation, which God called good on the day of creation, feeling the presence of God returning sons and daughters from afar.  Imagine the soldiers return from our wars and conflicts.  Imagine the Israelites and the Palestinians returning home to safety and a hope filled future.  Imagine the Sunni and Shiites returning home to live in peace, brothers and sisters with one another.  Imagine lives being rebuilt in Syria and the Sudan.  Imagine!!!  And let the voice of God, the Prince of Peace, spur you on to action to bring this day about.