Australia Day! ... and Stan's reminder about racism

Today we celebrate our beautiful home: it's land, it's people, it's hardships and opportunities.  We really have a lot to be thankful for!!

Acts 17:26-27 tells us that it is God who has placed us in Australia at this time of history - so to live here is truly a blessing from God.  You are not here by chance, or by your own ingenuity.  Delight in the gift of Australia, and thank the gift giver!

But we must use today to resolve ourselves to live with responsibility before God in this time and place that he has placed us.  And beneath our sunny skies, and within our own hearts lurks many issues - sin, to be blunt.  Our materialism is rampant, our care for the environment is negligent, and our generous care for ANYONE - regardless of race or creed - is endangered.

It would be worth starting here: read this article and watch Stan Grant's recent speech about Racism and the Great Aussie Dream.  Then work out at least one practical thing you can do in response.

A prayer for today:
Father, thank you for the great gift of our beautiful home
Thank you for it's freedoms, it's wealth, it's society, it's people

Father thank you that you have placed us here, at this time, in this great place.

But we know Lord that with privilege comes responsibility.  We know that in our history great horrors have been committed.  Even now, injustice remains.  And we are so tempted to go with the flow, to not live as we ought, to not care as we should.  Forgive us, and help us right now to know ways in which we can live as you would like us to.

Thank you for Jesus who has paid the penalty for our sin, who gives us grace right now, and who calls us to live courageously.  Thank you that he reminds us that to follow him is costly.  Help us in our weakness.  Give us humility in our strength.

We pray for our nation, that you would bring healing where there is injustice.  Help those affected by our greed and gluttony to find support and encouragement and a way forward.  Help us to make restitution where we should.  Help us not hang on to our privileges - but let them go so that another may benefit.

Loving Father, help us to fulfil the purpose that you placed us here for - that we and others might 'seek you and perhaps reach out for you and find you, though you are not far from any one of us'

We pray this in your great name, Amen