“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you… (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

I’ll share something from a friend of mine. Himself, a Jewish believer in Messiah Yeshua! (Jesus Christ)

____________________________________________________

I never cease to be amazed at the people we call “the Jews” They derived this name from one of the 12 tribes of Jacob, whose name was Judah. Throughout the centuries since then and even prior to that time, the Jewish people have been afflicted, persecuted, and often, put to death. The Spanish inquisitions of the late 15th and early l6 centuries, as well as the European Holocaust of the late 1930’s and 40’s are just 2 of the glaring reminders of humanity’s antagonism against them. Throughout history and to this day there have been all too many attempts to eradicate these people who have been small in number.

Several reasons may be adduced for the animosities and atrocities leveled against them:

1. They were the bearers of God’s moral laws. The world has resented the divine restrictions these laws have placed upon them (Psalm 2).
2. The attacks against them may also very readily be traced to a very real enemy of God, the Devil, who has tried to thwart God’s plan ever since his fall. [But God has already promised the demise of this evil being (Revelation 20:10), which will transpire according to God’s eternal Word].
3. God has at times had to discipline His own people who have wandered away from His Word, the purpose of which was to bring them back to Himself.

God has an eternal plan for the Jews. Yes, they are His special people, and we would be well off to pray for them and support them in their plight.

Do you know the MOST Amazing Jew?

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5–6)

Right now as of typing this the National Debt is ($39,115,593,688,842.00) That’s $114,599 for every person in America. If one second on the clock equals one dollar, then it would take 32,000 years to pay off one trillion dollars. Of course, by now, you would need to multiply that by more than 39 times. That is insane and will eventually if by no other means, destroy the United States. There is ZERO% chance of ever paying it off.

My friend John used to put it:

“We owe a debt that is non-monetary and far more serious. It is a debt we owe the almighty God. “You see, we owe Him our very lives for the great and gracious gift He has given us in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, we have to pay for our sins against Him (Sin is anything that is against the God of the Bible, the God of this universe)“

Paul, the apostle, puts it this way, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 6:23). As a matter of fact, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Romans 5:8).

Theologians call this “substitutionary atonement.” Jesus paid for our sins by shedding His blood on the cross in our stead. We should have paid the price for our sins, but instead, He did. Of course, God couldn’t and wouldn’t have accepted our own payment as He demanded a perfect sacrifice. And thus, only His Son qualified to die in our stead – – the just for the unjust!

So, forget about paying the debt – – you can’t! God did! By accepting His gift of forgiveness and everlasting life you will find pardon and a cancelled debt!

Have you accepted this free gift?

A dear sister I have recently spoken to is dealing with many anxieties that life will deal out upon us. There are no words I have but only offer prayer. HOWEVER, God has many words for her by extension all of us! The following is the last article I posted for a dear Brother and mentor of mine before he graduated to his eternal reward. John was a Jewish Believer and retired Pastor.

Added Psalm 139 at the bottom for reference.

---

[ John once told me… “Brian, I have a confession. I have an addiction” I gave him a sideways look and blank stare, to that he continued… “I am addicted to the Psalms.” The writings of the Psalms are truly a wealth of wisdom, comfort, and edification. I think we ALL can use this addiction…]

Believe it or not, even David, the greatest king of Israel, had his anxieties (I guess we all suffer the same malady from time to time)! The remedy he prescribes is an eye-opener:

I. Call to mind that the biblical God is OMNISCIENT – – He knows everything (Psalm 139:1-6)…

1. He knows all about me (verse 1)
2. He knows all my movements (verses 2-3)
3. He knows all my thoughts and words from a distance (verses 2-4)
4. He knows it all – -too much for me to comprehend (verse 6)!

II. Call to mind that the biblical God is OMNIPRESENT – – the entire universe is constantly before Him! (Psalm 139:7-12)…

1. There is no place to be or flee from His presence – – none (verses 7-10)
2. Darkness (that He Himself created) is no obstacle to Him (verses 11-12)

III. Call to mind that the biblical God is OMNIPOTENT – – He is all powerful (Psalm 139:13-16)…

1. He skillfully formed each individual in mom’s womb, in secret – – something only He could do (verses 13, 15)
2. Each person is fearfully and wonderfully made by Him – – everyone is a  marvelous work of God (verse 14)
3. While still unformed, God beheld my human substance (verse 16)
4. My entire life was fashioned prior to my being formed by God. As a matter of fact, my name was written in His book of life (verse 16)!

King David concludes with some very powerful observations:

• Those who act wickedly against God are His enemies and will be severely punished by Him. They are the bloodthirsty God-haters who also take His name (authority, identity, nature, reputation) in vain (verses 19-22).
• I need not be anxious any longer: “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them” (verse 17)!

My ANXIETIES, but God’s ANSWERS!

John P Pisarek

Psalm 139 (NKJV)

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. ¹ O Lord, You have searched me and known me. ² You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. ⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? ⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, ¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; ¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. ¹³ For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. ¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. ²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. ²¹ Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? ²² I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.