Conflict.

So much has happened in this part of the world – the Middle East. Some people believe the Garden of Eden itself was originally in this region. The majority of the people of the Bible, including Jesus, largely lived their lives there. Yet virtually from the dawn of time, this area has been in constant conflict. Over the course of the last year, Israel has (again) been front-page news for ongoing, horrifying bloodshed. From the moment God chose Israel, the enemy has been strategically instigating violence and terror in the Middle East in every way imaginable. Could it be because that is where humanity started? Or that it is the place Jesus would ultimately be born, killed and rise again? Possibly. But the real question is: what do we do about it? Psalm 122:6 instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. This is very important, and we should absolutely do this.

But what about all of the countries surrounding Israel, and it’s inhabitants? Did Jesus not die for them, too?
Spoiler alert: He did; and speaking from personal experience, ministry in this area of the world is not for the faint of heart. Expect conflict. Expect anger. Expect hatred. But this is what the enemy does to people. He blinds them, deceives them, and causes such animosity to rise up that they are seemingly closed to the Gospel because of the anger that burns within them.

In Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus utters a command that is exponentially more difficult in reality than theory: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” GI’s latest team has just returned from the Middle East—pray that the spiritual atmosphere will change and the seeds sown will become a harvest.