Tragedy in Africa

9 "This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

(Matthew 6:9-13; TNIV)

Jamie Arpin-Ricci has called our attention to the horrible crime against children in Uganda and the Sudan. Be sure to read the article he calls our attention to from Christianity Today. I never knew the depths of what was going on there until I read that article.

"The Lord's Prayer" amounts to praying "the Jesus Creed" . When praying this prayer we often ought to have such tragedies in mind. There is no doubt, for example, that there are children who have been abducted into this evil regime who come from Christian families. There is also no doubt, that whether Christian or not, Jesus cares about all such in the world. We as his body are his special presence in the world today. We certainly should care for those nearest us who are poor and need help. But we cannot ignore the plight of those who are suffering in our global community, especially children.

Let us pray for God's intervention against the unspeakable evil going on against these children. And let us ask the Lord what part he may have for us in his answer to these prayers.