John 16 -- Part Of What's Happening In Egypt Now?

Something in verses 2-4 caught my attention this morning.  I’ve been listening to all the stuff coming out of Egypt and other countries in that region.  These verses had an ominous ring to them.  Jesus said:

“Yes, the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are offering serve to God.  They will do this because they have NOT known the Father AND they have not know Me.  I have told you these things now so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.”

I think it’s vitally important to understand one particular thing in there – they will be offering service to God BUT they do not know Him or Christ.  So the “God” they are offering service to is either not the same God we serve, or they have so thoroughly misunderstood Him that it’s as if they don’t know Him.  Jesus also says that they have not known HIM at all.  That would be apparent by their failure to obey His command to love their neighbors as themselves.  In Egypt and other countries in that region, that is certainly not happening right now.

Father, I pray for those who have misunderstood somewhere along the way or who have never known You.  They see You (or some other god) as a God of vengeance and conquest rather than the God of love that You are.  Please convict them of their lack of knowledge of You and Your nature.  Show them who You really are, Father, and how You want them to live.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford