Lets Practice The Second Great Commandment Matthew 22:36-40 (Living Bible Translation): Sir, which is the most important command in the laws of Moses? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar:Love your neighbour as much as you love yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others. .......The second most important is similar: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS MUCH AS YOURSELF. I have just returned from a week long trip to Rwanda, where I went to witness, the 20th commemoration of the 1994, GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI PEOPLE. I went there in my capacity, as a member of the Committee for the Prevention of Genocide. This is an international body, that operates under the United States National Holocaust Museum (ushmm.org ). It is hard to imagine that in a period of just 100 days, 1m people, were murdered; many by their neighbours, who look like them, and even speak the same language. One of the most remarkable stories, I heard, during this recent visit, came from a young woman, called Grace. Now 30 she was 10 at the time, of the genocide, and a member of the Hutu community, that were fleeing to camps in Eastern Congo, at the end of the genocide, in fear of reprisals: As she and her grandmother, were walking, with thousands of other refugees, they heard a woman, wailing in the bushes. The little girl broke away from her grandmother, to see what was happening. And there she found, a dying woman, half hacked to death, but with a 3 month baby still suckling at her breast. Without hesitation, little Grace picked up the Tutsi baby, and carried her on her back. She steadfastly refused to be separated from the baby, and eventually raised her by herself! They still live together. Vanessa, the baby is now 20 years old! Whenever I go to Rwanda, I am also struck by the remarkable way they have recovered. They now have one of the fastest growing economies in the world; yes, in the world! I would like to urge you, to take a few minutes, and visit websites, to learn about what happened in Rwanda in 1994, and also to learn about their remarkable efforts to rebuild their country. If like me, you also like to pray for nations, pray for them, and also Central African Republic, as well as the nations of Burundi, and South Sudan.... You know, before God turned the captivity of Job, He first directed him to pray for his friends; this too applies to nations, as a spiritual principle; It would appear that sometimes God wants us to turn away from self, before answering our own prayers. Yes, there are problems, all over the world, but today, we pray for our friends and neighbours. Sympathise with them; mourn with them, remember with them; and salute their fortitude and courage, even as survivors.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 20:02:20 +0000
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