Taking The Gospel To Gaza

 

Taking The Gospel To Gaza (By Gary Patterson) 

 The cleaning up of the Gaza Strip has been in the news lately. Our new president has been talking about how the Palestinian people need to leave the area, that is nothing now but a huge demolition site. There is hardly a building that is not in ruin. And of course there is protest, because many of the people want to go back to their homes, and restore it themselves. 

 I understand how important it is that restoration become a reality. But more important is the spiritual needs of the people. In essence there is a need for the Palestinian people to hear the gospel, and to come to Jesus Christ for salvation. Just like the Ethiopian eunuch did on the road to Gaza, many years ago. In Acts 8:26-40, we find the evangelist, Philip, being instructed by an angel to approach the eunuch, and explain the Scripture he was reading from the prophet Isaiah. in so doing, the eunuch submitted himself to being baptized into Christ. 

 "Gaza, in modern times, is a region with a predominantly Muslim population. Introducing the Gospel there may be met with with various challenges, such as cultural and religious differences. However there have been instances of Christian communities and humanitarian efforts present in the region, seeking to share the message of Jesus in ways that are respectful and sensitive to the local context." (Copilot) 

 You probably remember the song, with the line that went: "What the world needs now, is love, sweet love..." What the world really needs now, so desperately, is Jesus Christ. He is, as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of Him, as being the "Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) But He can only be that to the world, if the world hears this message of Him, and responds in faith, humility and obedience. Only then, will we get away from the hatred, the war and destruction, that has overwhelmed the middle east, as well as the world. 

 It's time for we as the church to do our part in reaching out, in any way we can, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with these people who have endured so much, and am sure have felt that there is no hope left for them today. GP 

 Photo: Save_Palestine - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www.pixabay.com