Phil On .. 

.. The Bigger Picture.
I wonder what your reaction was to the extraordinary scenes in the White House a while ago where Trump, Zelensky and Vance engaged in that shouting match? Incredulity certainly, but did it stir up feelings inside you?
We all seem to be encouraged to give an opinion these days. The ‘Have your say’ options that appear at the bottom of news articles on the BBC web-site offer us plenty of chance to vent our spleen! The same is true for all social media platforms.
I regard Trump as very dangerous; but am I correct? How much knowledge am I basing this feeling on? It is important that I take a step back and recognise God sees a bigger picture.

Disciples Paul and Barnabus had a disagreement in the early days of spreading the news of Jesus. Barnabus wanted to bring along Mark to help, but Paul felt he was unreliable based on previous experience. It is quite possible that the early Christians were disturbed by these events and worried about the growth of Christianity. It’s interesting that Paul and Barnabus then went their separate ways. Paul recruiting Silas to help him and Barnabus working with Mark. I’m sure God would have preferred for Paul and Barnabus to resolve their differences there and then, but maybe God saw the split as helping to reach twice the number of potential converts!

We need to recognise that God works through conflict and seemingly hopeless situations. Despite my reservations concerning Ukraine having to concede land to Russia and allow the US to generate income from their mineral reserves, if an earlier end to hostilities saves lives then maybe that is the best outcome? We need to trust God to be at the heart of situations that worry us, rather than keep ploughing the furrows of our own thoughts that have been formed from very little information or insight.