It is so easy to get down considering the world we live in today.

We can reflect on the several tragic youth suicides in our region, the health diagnoses of those we love, and the attempts to publicly oppress free speech and make those who believe in the Bible out to be fools.

There is plenty of sin in the world to rightly feel sorrow for.

However, we cannot let the calamity of a fallen world weigh us down when the Bible tells us to have confidence and to persevere, because the hope we have in the sacrifice of Christ is a great hope indeed! 

Let us reflect on the words from the Bible:

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

We are called in this passage to steadfastness, not being overwhelmed by our anxieties. 

We are called to keep meeting together as a church, so that we can be encouraged by each other’s consistency in striving towards Christ, being dedicated to the Bible and the glorification of God. 

Jamberoo Anglican is fortunate, for we work to act on these words.

We are a body who trusts the Lord when the world seems dark, who is consistent and committed, and greatly anticipates the return of our king.

Let us be encouraged and remember the words of Paul to the Philippians:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

RAYNE ORANGE

On Monday, the leaders of the United States of America and North Korea met at the Demilitarised Zone that sits precariously on the border between the divided Korean nations along the 38th Parallel.

It was described as a last-minute event, and the impact was strongly symbolic.

These two nations have been apart since August 1945, when the North was controlled by Communists installed by Russia and later influenced by China, and the South was controlled by the US.

This division greatly impacts the people of Korea, but it is indicative of a conflict that stems from the Cold War.

Any future reunification would be a powerful sign of peace between warring factions, and would bring some comfort to the world that tires of the nuclear sabre rattling of global powers.

In the Bible, there was another wall of hostility that powerfully divided two, warring factions.

These were the Jews and the Gentiles, separated from early human history due to the clear commands from our Lord God for his chosen people to be pure and holy from the world that rejects him.

Yet, even in the time before Jesus there were hints that this division would not remain forever, as some well-known Gentiles came to trust in the Lord and be welcomed into his people.

When Jesus died, the final barrier was destroyed, and now people from all nations can come together as the new people of God, united as one in Christ.

As we read in Ephesians, 

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. (Ephesians 2:14)

This is true, lasting peace that will survive into eternity.

JODIE McNEILL