For Gaza. . .

My heart breaks for Gaza.

My heart longs for the people of Gaza to know that there are Christians in America:

who love them
who pray for them
who grieve with them in their suffering
who wish we could come there to embrace them and say these things in person (Inshallah, some day).

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (The Zabur of Dawud – The Psalms of David – Psalm 34:18)

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
(the words of Isa al Masih – Jesus – in The Injil, Matthew, 5:3-10)

May we all strive to obey these words and the example of Jesus who is truly God’s Word – Kalimat Allah.

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PostScript: some Christians who will read this post will ask, “Why have you written several posts like this over the years in support of Gaza and the Palestinian people? What about the Jews? What about Israel?”

Here is my answer. I love the Jewish people because God loves all the people of the world. But. . .plenty of Christians are writing in support of Israel. There are countless Zionists in American churches. I have been to Israel and the West Bank several times and the problem – as I see it – is that many (if not most) American Christians blindly and unconditionally support Israel and are largely ignorant about the suffering and oppression of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.

Simply put, I feel it is my duty as a worshiper of God and a follower of Jesus to speak out on the behalf of the oppressed:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
(the prophet Micah in the Bible, chapter 6, verse 8)