This past year has been a turbulent one on the world stage, wouldn’t you agree? So many geopolitical forces clashing over so many things. How do the little people – people like you and me – respond to all that?

Well, some retreat into their own shell of self-interest. What does it mean to my finances, my wellbeing, my mortgage or rent, my grocery prices, my future?

Others, though, see it as an opportunity to trumpet their national interest, mixing their religion and their politics in a most unholy way – kind of like the Pharisees, the religious leaders, back in Jesus’ day. They were in cahoots with the occupying Romans and saw their religion (such as it was) as a means of bolstering their own power base.

They critised Jesus vehemently for hanging around with the lost and hopeless, the rejects of society.

Matthew 9:12-13 Jesus heard them say this. So he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. You need to go and learn what this Scripture means: ‘I don’t want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.’ I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”

It seems that the Pharisees had completely missed the point of their “religion”, something that’s still happening today through some of the ugly Christian nationalism doing the rounds.

British theologian, N.T Wright, puts it like this: “Christian nationalism is impoverished as it seeks a kingdom without a cross. It pursues a victory without mercy. It acclaims God’s love of power rather than the power of God’s love.”

For Jesus, it was never about religion or politics. It was always about showing kindness to the lost and drawing them to Himself. Not such a bad model, when you think about it.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.