Can We Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus?

In the aftermath of the terror attacks in Paris on Friday, many Muslims in France and Europe are now afraid of a backlash of Islamaphobia.

Syrian refugees living in France are also afraid, especially after reports that a Syrian passport had been found in the rubble of one of the attacks.

The passport has since been reported to be false, but this will make no difference to those bent on making life difficult for the legitimate refugees, most of whom are just as horrified at what has happened.

People want someone to blame. Someone at whom to target their grief and anger. And who better than the refugees flooding into Europe?

Political activists are feeding this anti-Islam, anti-refugee phobia with rhetoric about young Muslim radicals hiding amongst the refugees, and boosting fears that these refugees threaten the very core of the security of Europe.

What is our reaction as the Church and as people of God to this situation? What is the reaction of the European church to this backlash? Is it to also live in fear and blame all Muslims for the horrific acts of a fanatical few? Or is it to see Muslims through the eyes of Jesus, with His compassion and grace?

Can we look in their eyes and say that Jesus loves them? Can we bow our knees and pray that they will find the way of salvation that was opened up through the cross and resurrection of Jesus? Can we take the time to reach out a hand of love across the street, get to know them and show them the boundless love of God?

Let us, as God’s people around this world, join our hearts together and lift these nations and people before our Father in Heaven, and then go and be the hands and feet of Jesus to the Muslims in our neighbourhoods.

• Pray for Muslims in France, and across Europe, America and other countries where there are already anti-Islam policies being discussed. Pray for governments to act with wisdom, not a knee jerk reaction of anger and fear.
• Pray for peace on the streets of France and Europe, and in the hearts and minds of people as they process what has happened.
• Pray for Christians across the world to seek to be Jesus to the Muslims in their communities, reaching out with love and compassion, not anger.
• Pray that many Muslims will encounter Christ, His grace, love, healing and hope.

Matthew 9 vs 36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Luke 10 vs 2: “He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”