As I write this on Friday, there is encouraging development in the country which we love: Indonesia. By the grace of God, the unrest has stopped and the communication between college students and members of the parliament has resulted in steps to implement the proposed changes. Despite attempts by some to inflict harms to the Chinese community, most have remained vigilant and focused on the issue of corruption that has gone rampant and out of control. Another May 98 mayhem has been averted. Thank you, Lord!

In his book, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, Kenneth E. Bailey reminds us that in the Beatitudes, Jesus does not say, “Blessed are those who live righteously and maintain a righteous lifestyle.”No, instead, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Hence, the emphasis is on hunger and thirst after righteousness as a goal that we, Christians, should strive after. Bailey comments, “The blessed are not those who arrive but those who continue, at whatever cost, in their pilgrimage toward a more perfect righteousness. The constant, the relentless drive toward righteousness characterizes the blessed.”

While on earth, Jesus never attempted to change the government He’s under, the Roman Empire. No, His focus was not on changing the external but on changing the internal. Changing the external—the system of government, colonization, etc.—will only bring about a temporary and superficial transformation. Changing the internal will bring about a lasting and complete transformation. We cannot change a country or a government; we can only change a person. In the fourth century Caesar Constantine tried to make Roman Empire a Christian state. He only succeeded in changing the state religion, not a person’s faith. Change will come when we begin to hunger and thirst after righteousness, when we see we need “righting.”

Pastor Paul