I told the LORD if He would wake me up, I would go to the dawn service on ANZAC day. I awakened before my alarm and walked to the cenotaph in Riverstone to join the throng which had already filled the square in front of the train station. This is one of many dawn services I have attended on ANZAC day, commemorated annually on 25 April. Those who attended the service were treated to a historical occasion - one I did not expect (besides the drone which buzzed around for half the service, a noisy nuisance).
The format of the service had a notable addition to hymns, poetry, the LORD's prayer, and the Last Post: a speech, prayer (in song), and interpretation of a local Muslim imam. In light of the Christchurch massacre it was decided to extend an invitation for the Imam to address the crowd and pray. I thought it was a strange thing indeed, to hear prayers in Arabic those Diggers likely heard at a distance from minarets all those years ago at Gallipoli before they gave their all. It was the first time ever, the imam shared, a Muslim had been asked to share like this and was grateful for the opportunity. His words were measured with an Australian accent and translated carefully: he often mentioned the grace of God and never said "Allah" - only "God." If I was a not a Christian, what he was saying sounded on the surface very Christian. But the god of Islam and the Koran and the God described in the Bible are two different deities: they cannot be reconciled as the same, and the wise will not be duped.
The people who attended the dawn service were of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and this is the world in which followers of Jesus live. There are some who want Muslims (and Americans, for that matter!) to "go back where they came from," but I am glad they live among us. How will people ever hear of Jesus Christ of the Bible who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? There are deceptions all around, but it is only the truth of the Bible and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we need to be light in a world of darkness. Years ago I learned in some countries people are identified as Muslim or Christian due to their family background and this information is included on your identification. In many countries it is illegal to be born Muslim and later decide to become a Christian. Jesus Christ, in whom dwells the fullness of God bodily (Colossians 2:9) died to save the souls of Americans, Diggers, Muslims, to free people from bondage to sin and the power of Satan, and to provide life abundantly.
In the parable the master was not concerned to have the wheat and tares grow up together, fearing the tares would somehow strip the wheat of its nutritious properties. No: the wheat and tares were permitted to grow up together and when the time of harvesting came they would be sorted. So it is for all the people at that ANZAC dawn service and all the world. God knows every single person who has been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, the only Way to God. What is the chaff to the wheat? Praise the LORD He has sent Jesus to be the Saviour of the world and we can have love, forgiveness, and eternal life through Him.
The format of the service had a notable addition to hymns, poetry, the LORD's prayer, and the Last Post: a speech, prayer (in song), and interpretation of a local Muslim imam. In light of the Christchurch massacre it was decided to extend an invitation for the Imam to address the crowd and pray. I thought it was a strange thing indeed, to hear prayers in Arabic those Diggers likely heard at a distance from minarets all those years ago at Gallipoli before they gave their all. It was the first time ever, the imam shared, a Muslim had been asked to share like this and was grateful for the opportunity. His words were measured with an Australian accent and translated carefully: he often mentioned the grace of God and never said "Allah" - only "God." If I was a not a Christian, what he was saying sounded on the surface very Christian. But the god of Islam and the Koran and the God described in the Bible are two different deities: they cannot be reconciled as the same, and the wise will not be duped.
The people who attended the dawn service were of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and this is the world in which followers of Jesus live. There are some who want Muslims (and Americans, for that matter!) to "go back where they came from," but I am glad they live among us. How will people ever hear of Jesus Christ of the Bible who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? There are deceptions all around, but it is only the truth of the Bible and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we need to be light in a world of darkness. Years ago I learned in some countries people are identified as Muslim or Christian due to their family background and this information is included on your identification. In many countries it is illegal to be born Muslim and later decide to become a Christian. Jesus Christ, in whom dwells the fullness of God bodily (Colossians 2:9) died to save the souls of Americans, Diggers, Muslims, to free people from bondage to sin and the power of Satan, and to provide life abundantly.
In the parable the master was not concerned to have the wheat and tares grow up together, fearing the tares would somehow strip the wheat of its nutritious properties. No: the wheat and tares were permitted to grow up together and when the time of harvesting came they would be sorted. So it is for all the people at that ANZAC dawn service and all the world. God knows every single person who has been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, the only Way to God. What is the chaff to the wheat? Praise the LORD He has sent Jesus to be the Saviour of the world and we can have love, forgiveness, and eternal life through Him.
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