Rich or Poor?

• What is Mission?
• Jesus' Mission
• Our Call to Mission
• Arenas of Mission
  • What is Evangelism?
    • How to Introduce People to Christ
    • Loving Your Muslim Neighbour
  • Making Disciples
    • Who are you praying for?
    • DBS - 3 Columns
    • DBS - Seven Questions
    • Scripture Passage Themes
    • Disciple Making Movements
    • Church Planting
  • Church Planting
    • Your First Church Plant
    • City, Regional or National Initiative
  • Missional Communities
    • Renewal in Mission
    • Congregational Leadership
  • Social Impact
• Writing Your Personal Mission Statement
• Rhythm of Life and Mission

Broken Promises - Ezekiel 17:11-24

Let your 'Yes,' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No.' (Matt. 6:37)

In 1945 Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met in Yalta to discuss the re-organisation of post-war Europe. Russia had already seized Poland and Romania, "liberating" them from the Germans. Churchill was pushing for free elections and democratic governments in Eastern Europe. Stalin assured him that "because the Russians had greatly sinned against Poland, the government was trying to atone for those sins...The Soviet Union is interested in the creation of a mighty, free and independent Poland." Borders were redrawn and the future set. Less than six weeks later, the US Ambassador to the Soviet Union notified Roosevelt that the Soviet intention was totalitarianism, not democracy and free elections. Half of Europe would sink into the cold night of winter for the next 50 years.

Does God care about the injustice perpetrated against innocent people? The Lord's words through Ezekiel assure us that he does: "Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?" Treaties are sacred promises made before God. Lincoln noted: "In times like these men should utter nothing for which they would not be willingly responsible through time and eternity."  Notably, Poland was the first Soviet satellite to break totalitarianism's iron grip, led by a Catholic shipyard electrician named Lech Walesa, in "a year of miracles." Clearly the Lord had decided it was time to set things right!

Prayer: Lord of the nations, we long for justice, for your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Please establish godly leaders who will rule their people righteously so they may prosper and not suffer any longer.