Antisemitism has never been constrained by time or religion – it has continued throughout history at the hands of atheists, Christians, Muslims and pagans alike. Whether Jewish people have assimilated into the culture or kept themselves to themselves in their own communities, they have been hated and persecuted wherever they go, and whatever they do. Whether in exile or in their own land, in Babylon or in Egypt, in Christian Europe, Atheist Russia or the Muslim Middle East, whether they’re following God or in rebellion against him, the attacks do not stop.
​
​
ANTISEMITISM,
​
THE OLDEST HATRED? 

Whenever there is an attack on Jewish people abroad, no matter what the motivation, there are always those who turn to blame Israel. “Absolutely appalling and a criminal act, but does it ever occur to… the present Israeli government that it’s [sic] actions against Palestinians may be reigniting antisemitism?” British lawmaker, Jenny Tonge, opined that Israel’s policies were the reason for the mass murder of Jews in Pittsburgh – an absolutely appalling act of antisemitism on her own part. But antisemitism goes back long before the troubles of the modern State of Israel ever existed. It was not the ‘occupation’ that was bothering Adolf Hitler… or the Spanish Inquisitors, or the perpetrators of the violent pogroms and Crusades that destroyed Jewish lives throughout the centuries in Europe and Russia. We can be confident it was not the settlements or checkpoints that got Haman’s goat in the story of Esther, or put the Amalekites’ nose out of joint to the degree that they tried to kill off the entire people group just after the Exodus. It is not that the State of Israel causes racism against the Jewish people, but rather, racism against the Jews that demonstrates the need for a Jewish state.

As long as there has been a people of God, chosen for His purposes, the attacks and annihilation attempts have been relentless. It is ludicrous to suggest that the State of Israel is to blame for violence perpetrated against the Jewish people.



THE TRUE OBJECT OF HATRED: THE GOD OF ISRAEL
​
What makes Jewish people Jewish? The God who called the nation into being for His own purposes. It was God who created the people of Israel. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and ordained that his twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel. His people. They were a people chosen by God, led by God, instructed by God, and precious to God. And they are called by His name.


“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.

The LORD your God has chosen you

out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people,

his treasured possession.”

(Deuteronomy 7:6)



WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ISRAEL? =>
​Not only did they identify themselves with Him, but God identified Himself with them.


He is, and always will be,

The God of Israel


He refers to Himself in Scripture hundreds of times as the God of Israel. The God who delivered Israel from Egypt. One day, we learn from Jeremiah 16:14 and 23:7-8, we will know Him as the God who regathered Israel. Whichever way you look at it, God is inextricably linked to Israel, and always will be. This irks a lot of people. Some are bitter about the fact that God chose a particular nation at all, or the fact that Israel (like all of humanity) has always been so undeserving of God’s grace, or that God is the one in charge and gets to make such choices without consulting anyone. 
“Antisemitism stems from the inherently rebellious hearts of humans. As the people of God, the Jews are associated with God, and thus Jew hatred is sometimes subliminal but always due to an unregenerate heart.”
Christine Darg. Dr. Richard Bookers says in a similar vein that Jew hatred is God hatred because the Jews remind the world they are accountable to God for their lives and they don’t want to be reminded.


​
HOW CAN CHRIST  FOLLOWERS STAND AGAINST ANTISEMITISM?

“You cannot love God”, warned Corrie Ten Boom, “without loving the Jewish people”. It is shocking that this even needs to be pointed out, yet church history makes an extremely uncomfortable reading when it comes to the treatment of the Jews. What a sad misrepresentation of Christianity. 

I'm sure subconsciously, this gives the Jewish population an underlying judgment of all Christian's or Christianity. 

This may cause them to view Christian's
through a filtered lens, that sees separation and opposition

instead of unity and oneness.

The vast majority of Christian's cant relate to antisemitism, and aren't aware of it, because they were taught "there is no jew or gentile for we are all one." This could also cause a Jewish person to -wrongly- view anything not meant specifically because of Jewish identity as a "separate identity," and in turn, "misidentify" antisemitism. 

​

But what can Christians do to stand against

​antisemitism today?




1. PRAY

We cannot underestimate the impact of our prayers. Let’s pray for the bereaved, for the frightened Jewish communities facing antisemitism in the US, in France, in the UK, and all over the world. We must also pray for their enemies. Pray for those trapped in webs of bitterness and lies. Pray for Christians who are blinded to the truth about God’s heart for His people. You can be sure that your prayers will be reaching the Father’s heart, and we know that if we pray in accordance with His will, He hears, and He will answer.

You could also send a letter to a synagogue near you to let them know that you are praying for them, standing with them, and that you care.




2. PUBLICLY STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH
AND DENOUNCE LIES
​

The Body of Messiah has a prophetic ministry
to bring to light words or actions
that portray untruth

There are so many falsehoods defaming Israel and the Jewish people in circulation. It is simply not true that Israel is an Apartheid state, or that they are committing genocide. There are no Jewish plots in progress to take over the world, or even the Middle East. Israel will do everything it can to avoid killing civilians, especially children, and the lies that are perpetrated on these matters fuel the fires of antisemitic hatred. It’s important to investigate for yourself what is true and what is not, rather than believing one side or the other, but when you find solid facts, make them known.
Whether it manifests as Alt-Right racism or Far-Left hatred of Israel, antisemitism is fueled by conspiracy stories. Behind them lies the peddler of falsehoods and the spreader of fear: the father of lies himself.
​

We can help combat antisemitism

by uncovering

and proclaiming the truth.






3. REMIND PEOPLE THAT
​

JESUS IS JEWISH –PRESENT TENSE!
​

As Russell Moore put it so well in his piece in the Washington Post, “If you hate the Jews, you hate Jesus too”:
“I will often hear Christians say, “Remember that Jesus was Jewish.” That’s true enough, but the past tense makes it sound as though Jesus’ Jewishness were something he sloughed off at the resurrection. Jesus is alive now, enthroned in heaven. He is transfigured and glorified, yes, but he is still Jesus. This means he is still, and always will be, human. He is still, and always will be, the son of Mary. He is, and always will be, a Galilean. When Jesus appeared before Saul of Tarsus on the Road to Damascus, the resurrected Christ introduced himself as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 22:8).



​Jesus is Jewish, present tense… 

He is of the

tribe of Judah.

He is of the

House of David…





As Christians, we are, all of us,
adopted into a Jewish family, into an Israelite story.” 

In the past it may have been misunderstood in the New Testament to think that Jesus was against the Jewish people as a whole. That is not Accurate.
But not only is Jesus Jewish,
his entire family, all his disciples, and
most of the early church were Jewish too.
The Bible teaches God is not done with Israel, and will never forsake the Jewish people (Romans 9-11).
True followers of Christ, know that
Jesus was standing up to the Pharisees- religious authorities,
oppressors of the common people in a fully Jewish community. 




4. IDENTIFY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

It is important to stand with
the Jewish people especially in times like this –

to identify with the people of Israel as they are under attack.

During the Holocaust when the Nazis were making Jews wear a yellow star, the Danish king is said to have suggested to his finance minister,
Vilhelm Buhl,


"perhaps we should all wear it.” 


Such an act would completely negate the attempt to isolate and victimize the Jewish people. 
​
Similarly, when a brick came through the window of a Jewish family at Hanukkah time, the entire town of Billings, Montana, decided to
put Jewish Hanukkiahs in their windows in
solidarity. 

The attacks by the KKK soon stopped.

​It took courage for people to stand with their Jewish neighbors, knowing that they are making themselves a target too,
but it’s a powerful thing to do. 

For Gentile believers in Yeshua, identification with Israel is not a mere gesture, but an expression of reality – of the deep truth that you are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel. Ruth’s courageous love for Naomi’s people and their God did not go unnoticed, and neither will yours.
​
“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 
(Ruth 1:16-17)


Israel has no bigger support than that of

true followers of Christ.
​

Sadly, not all 'Christians" represent the cross well,
hence why we need more of him-
we are all flawed imperfect human beings navigating this existence
in

need of a savior. 


​The Scripture cannot state it more unambiguously than God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 12:3 –

“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

https://www.oneforisrael.org/news/eruption-of-antisemitism/

In the final analysis,
antisemitism is more destructive to those who practice it
than to those who bear the brunt of it.
Hard as it may be to contemplate the anguish of Jewish people
who have suffered such cruelty at the hands of their
enemies throughout the centuries,
it is even more frightening to consider the
eternal judgment courted by those who are determined to hate what

God Himself loves.


As the character, Yakov Bok in Bernard Malamud’s award-winning novel The Fixer observes as he reads the New Testament his guards have given him, “If you want to be an anti-Semite, you must first hate Jesus Christ.”


No one loved his own people

more than 'Jesus.


As believers in Messiah,

we have a vital part to play to stem the tide of antisemitism.
Starting at home, we are charged with the task of
praying for the Jewish people
and demonstrating our support by coming alongside our Jewish neighbors with affirmation
as well as the encouraging words of the Gospel.

We must speak out against religious and ethnic
hatred wherever we find it – not only against the Jewish people but against anyone. This is something I have always personally and faithfully taken akin to, with a special admiration for Israel.


After all,
it is exactly what Christians were taught,
​and practice. 


In the Old Testament, the wonderful characteristics of God’s love were in a very clear way revealed to Israel.  This nation owes its entire existence to the love of God.
​

However, it was always meant to be a reciprocating love

in which the obligation rested on Israel
to respond to God’s love

by living in the right relationship with Him.




Moses said to his people:
​
“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 from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face” (Deut. 7:7-10). 

Every member of the nation who did not love the Lord and turn his back upon Him, would pierce himself through with many sorrows. He would be the sufferer. On the other hand, those who love the Lord will be richly blessed:
“And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land… the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples”
(Deut. 7:13-14). 


To qualify for these blessings,
there is only the demand of true love which
must also manifest in works of charity:

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” (Deut. 10:12-13). 


He would also protect them against the plots and attacks of their enemies, of which there were many. Balak, the king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse Israel:
​
“Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you” (Deut. 23:5). 

Balaam advised Balak not to curse Israel or to fight against them because the Lord fights for them. He counselled Balak to befriend himself with Israel and invite them to the feasts of Moab’s gods. Should Israel agree to social and religious compromise with Moab, they would become untrue to God, despise His love and worship other gods.
​
The doctrine of Balaam is the doctrine of compromise with an apostate world, against which the New Testament church is also warned in Rev. 2:14.

This self-destructing compromise caused a big disaster in Israel.
They accepted an invitation to a Baal feast, participated in the sacrifices, and many Israeli men also took heathen wives in Moab.
In doing so, Israel didn’t honour their relationship of love towards God but instead committed treason against Him.
As a result, the wrath of God was kindled against Israel and He sent a plague over them in which 24 000 people died
(Num. 25:1-3, 9).

In spite of incidents of this nature,

in which Israel often in their history invited the anger of God,
the love of God for Israel

never changed.

Many individuals died as a result of their sins and rebellion, but that did not destroy God’s covenant with Israel. His love for them is comprehensive and all-embracing. It doesn’t only include promises about their spiritual revival and physical restoration in their land, but also the promise of His daily care to save them from all dangers and anxieties:
​
“But now, thus says the LORD who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour, I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honoured, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give them up! And to the south, Do not keep them back! Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth – everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Is. 43:1-7). 




The question may be asked:

Why does the Lord
have to gather this people
from the four corners of the earth
and bring the dispersed ones back to their land?


Why did they become unfaithful to the Lord and forfeited His blessings?
It is because of the hardening of their hearts.
Instead of worshipping the God of Israel they were deceived by Satan to live a life of licentiousness in which they also worshipped the Baals:

“But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; and you have been weary of Me, O Israel. You have not brought Me the sheep of your burnt offerings, nor have you honoured Me with your sacrifices… but you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities” (Is. 43:22-24). 

To this licentiousness and lack of love Israel often committed themselves. They were warned that it would ultimately lead to great calamities and disaster, including the international dispersion of the nation:

“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law
that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues… And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other… And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. Your life shall hang in doubt before you” (Deut. 28:58-66). 
​

Eventually Israel also rejected and turned their backs
upon their Messiah, the Lord Jesus,
who is the

personification of God’s love for them.


That was the final sin that filled the cup of their iniquities and gave rise to the international dispersion against which Moses warned them.



Jesus said:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord!” (Mt. 23:37-39). 

Of the international dispersion of Israel that would follow after they rejected the Messiah and would endure until they finally accept Him, Jesus said:
“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Lk. 21:24). 

Although the destruction of Jerusalem and the
diaspora of Israel constitute divine judgements,
it was never meant to be an absolute rejection of Israel and
the abrogation of God’s covenant with them.

The God of Israel says:
“Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; For I am the LORD their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD” (Lev. 26:44-45). 

Paul also confirms the fact that the Lord didn’t reject His people Israel.
​At the end of the times of the Gentiles, which is the end of the Church dispensation, the trampling of Jerusalem will be terminated and the people be restored physically and spiritually:

“I say then, has God cast away His people?

Certainly not!
For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew…
hardening in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:


The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
for this is My covenant with them,
when I take away their sins”
(Rom. 11:1-2, 25-27). 


What we now see in Israel, as well as in the salvation of an increasing number of Messianic Jews who return to the God of their fathers through Jesus Christ, is confirmation of sure promises that God will never abandon Israel. His love for Israel is eternal and unchangeable.

Listen to what He says through the prophet Hosea about this forsaken woman, Israel, who wandered away from Him:
 
“I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense… Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt… I will take from her mouth the name of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more” (Hos. 2:13-17). 

The prophets Isaiah also confirms the
restored relationship
of love between Israel and God:

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; nor be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the LORD has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God. For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer” (Is. 54:4-8). 

To Hosea this wonderful prospect was also revealed, and he concludes his writings with a prophecy on the

restored relationship between Israel and their God:

“I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.

Those who dwell under his shadow shall return;
they shall be revived like grain, and grow like the vine”
(Hos. 14:4-7) 


The prophet Jeremiah emphasises the eternal love that God has for Israel:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.

You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria…
He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.
​

For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the LORD… their souls shall be like a well watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all… for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow… Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD“ (Jer. 31:3-20). 

It is evident from God’s dealing with Israel that His love has a clear element of chastening. This love is so pure that it can’t allow people who have accepted it to compromise with a sinful world, or to be licentious and permissive as is the case in the humanistic love of fallen man.

A wayward child
who persists with his uncharitable conduct
must be reprimanded, disciplined, and chastised.
However, these disciplinary actions are instituted with
the best interests of the person(s) involved.
If you're a loving parent and your child's hair is on fire-
would that parent say, "that's okay, you're going in the right direction," or would they speak the truth in love?

I love you- you're running toward that cliff and your hair is on fire,


let's put the fire out and turn around.



The chastising of Israel is an act of love
as it is aimed at their

​return to the Lord.

Those who have
sorrow over their sins and truly
repent

from it will be

met by a loving, 

​forgiving Father.


He will also completely restore a repentant Israel:

​
“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them.

Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people and I will be your God” (Ezek. 36:24-28). 

The day of Israel’s national conversion will be when the Messiah, Jesus, sets feet on the Mount of Olives at the end of the great tribulation.
He will then judge the nations and save the remnant of His people, Israel. Under strong conviction of sin, worked by the Holy Spirit, they will grieve over their sins, pray for pardon and mercy, and accept Jesus as Messiah and Saviour:

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn… They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, This is My people, and each one will say, the LORD is my God” (Zech. 12:10 and 13:9). 


The bond of love that was broken by Israel
because of their sins,

will be fully restored:

​
“O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity… Say to Him, Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously… [To these word of repentance God will say]:
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely” (Hos. 14:1-4). 

Isaiah says: “In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem or beauty to the remnant of His people” (Is. 28:5).

All the nations will know about the spiritual revival of Israel
and gladly associate with them to share in the blessings:
​
“In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying,

Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you”
(Zech. 8:23). 

The saved remnant of Israel will be united in their love for God and serve Him with their whole heart.


​God says:
“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more”
(Jer. 31:33-34). 

The dedication of Israel as a people will then be like that small group of exemplary men of God in the Old Testament.
The Lord will take pleasure in them like He took pleasure in David,

who was a man after God’s heart.


David declared his love for God by saying:
“I will love You, O LORD my strength”
(Ps. 18:1).
Another psalmist expressed his love for the Word of God:

“I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!…
Your word is very pure;

therefore Your servant loves it…
My soul keeps Your testimonies,

and I love them exceedingly”
(Ps. 119:127, 140, 167). 

Is your delight also in the word of God
and do you meditate on it day and night?
Are your footsteps anchored in the word of God,
and have you hidden His words in your heart
that you might not sin against Him?
Then the blessings of the Lord will surround you
and the Holy One of Israel will protect you.
God’s love for Israel will also be poured out in your heart.

You will pray for them and earnestly desire their salvation.


God says:

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake
I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a lamp that burns…

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Is. 62:1, 6-7). 

Before this can happen,
a passionate love must be awakened in the hearts of Jews
for the land of their fathers and the city of Jerusalem. 
These convictions and feelings must induce them to return and prepare Jerusalem and its inhabitants for the

soon coming of the Messiah!

This awakening is finally occurring in our generation.

The gospel is being heard in

Israel again, after 2,000 years of exile. 


God loves Israel, declaring, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jer. 31:3). God is eternal, and His love is eternal. To possess the love of God is to love that which he loves. One cannot claim to have God’s love, and simultaneously hate Israel,

His chosen people.


There is clearly no place for anti-Semitism in the heart of any Christian.



God called followers of Jesus to

​love and serve

Israel through the

message of the Gospel. 


As with the renewed covenant offered to Israel, our sins are removed freely  with faith in God's great sacrifice and work on the cross. The nation of Israel doesn't have that protection, but God promises to deliver them as a nation when they've gone too far from him. That's Israel's history, a pattern of national wandering from God, suffering, bondage, then redemption and deliverance. God's word says that greater sufferings bring greater rewards, because God- through Christ- compensates our weaknesses. The weaker we are, the greater he can demonstrate his greatness and faithfulness when called upon. If we are close to God, he will listen and answer. God always delivers Israel before it's too late, when they are far away, he promises to answer them from afar. The renewed covenant, the law of Christ, given by our God of Israel that made himself known to the beloved patriarchs, frees us from this bondage and is

freely offered to anyone who accepts it. 


Anyone who is under the law of Christ,

should love, honor, and praise Israel for nourishing the deep roots of the mosaic covenant long enough for the gentiles to have an opportunity to be in grafted into the one family of God. Judaism is a deep, rich, beautiful religion. The Jewish people are loving, kind, generous, and are zealous for God. But they are doing this from the wilderness, they haven't entered the promised land. They need a Shepard to draw nearer to God- that is Christ. God will eventually deliver Israel at the end of the age, through Jesus Christ- their savior, whom is very well active and alive in spirit today.

God calls followers of Christ to Shepard, love, and guide Israel through the Gospel. 

To love Israel is not a blanket endorsement of all their beliefs and behaviors. God, who loves Israel and chose them to be His people (Deut. 7:6-8), also called them to be holy (Ex. 19:5-6; Lev. 11:45), and promised blessing or cursing, based on their obedience to Him (Deut. 28:1-68). Israel can and does fail, often rejecting God’s love for them and walking in the ways of the world (see 2 Chron. 36:15-16; Jer. 7:25-26; 25:4-7; Ezek. 16; Matt. 23:1-39; Acts 7:51-53; 1 Thess. 2:14-16). The national rejection and crucifixion of Jesus (Matt. 27:22-23; Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28), Israel’s promised Messiah (Deut. 18:15; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7;53; 61:1; Matt. 1:1, 17; Luke 1:31-33), is their greatest failure. Did Israel act alone in crucifying Jesus, their Messiah? No! God foretold Israel’s Messiah would suffer and die (Ps. 22:11-18; Isa. 53); and, according to His sovereignty, He used wicked men, both Jews and Gentiles, to accomplish His will (Acts 22:22-23; 4:27-28).

If it be inquired, as constantly it is, who put Christ to death? It may be pointed out that He was offered by the Father (Ps. 22:15; John 3:16; Rom. 3:25), of His own free will (John 10:17; Heb. 7:27; 9:14; 10:12), by the Spirit (Heb. 9:14), and by men—Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and Israel (Acts 2:23; 4:27). To this may be added that part of His death was contributed by Satan (cf. Gen. 3:15).[1] 

Israel struggles with God and is disoriented. 
They get confused on what loving shepherding is, and can mistake it for antisemitism. The problem with Israel not knowing how to solve antisemitism, is that they don't know God's word. I've read a lot on Jewish sites/holocaust education sites that portray the religion of Christianity and the word of god very negative. It's also often incorrect or from a Jewish perspective which isn't a complete view. Communication is the only way to solve any misunderstanding, but Judaism doesn't want to listen to a Christian perspective. That can only last for so long, until it's no longer functional. 

Antisemitism is not caused by the New Testament, Christian doctrine, or beliefs that Jesus was killed by the Jews. If that is being used as a means for anti-semitism, it is a wrong understanding or representation of Scripture. God caused the death and resurrections of the messiah. There are dark and grievous period of history and antisemitism, which in order to truly fix, need to be understood as antisemitism needs to stop, and Israel can not accurately see how to fix it. Their messiah Jesus Christ is the only answer, but it's up to them when it occurs. Nothing like the holocaust should ever happen again, and it's up to Judaism to openly talk about it with whom may not agree with them, not just those who do agree with them. 

Resurrection is the key word-
meaning, Jesus is living and active today
through the Holy Spirit and body of Christ,
the spirit of truth.


Any governing policies in today's society that counteracts the spirit of truth causes disruption. God uses the body of Christ as vessels for the spirit of truth. 

     God, who loves Israel with an everlasting love, continues to keep His word to them. Israel has a future hope because of the promises and covenants God made through the patriarchs and prophets (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:8; Deut. 30:1-10; 2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:33-37; Jer. 31:31-33). Though unbelieving Israel is currently under divine discipline (Matt. 23:37-39), God’s covenants and promises are still in effect (Rom. 9:1-5), and will remain in force until Jesus returns and is accepted as their Messiah.
​
     It is wrong to think the church has replaced Israel, for “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew” (Rom. 11:2), even though there is a “partial hardening” among them until Messiah returns (Rom. 11:25-27). Until then, unbelieving Israel is under spiritual darkness and divine judgment. The apostle Paul—a biological Jew himself—revealed that God’s promises and covenants are still valid for national Israel, and wished all would come to faith in Christ.

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart [for unbelieving Israel]. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh [to whom Paul is related biologically], who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh [i.e. Messiah], who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. (Rom. 9:1-5)

Those who have the privilege of being witnesses to
the truth, have a responsibility to the truth.

     Today, Jews and Gentiles alike,
become partakers of the church, the body of Christ,
when they believe in Jesus as their Savior
(Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 1:22-23; cf. 1 Cor. 10:32).
The church is looking forward to the return of Christ,
in which He will catch away
(ἁρπάζω harpazo – to seize, catch up, snatch away)
Christians to heaven (1 Thess. 4:13-17).

Until God resumes His prophetic plans for Israel,
the Christian is called to love them, pray for them,
and share the gospel of grace
that they may turn to Jesus as the Christ and be saved
(Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18-24; 15:3-4).

​Antisemitism has only one sure antidote:
the perfect love of Messiah that “casts out fear”
(1 John 4:18).

​
The question “who are the seed of Abraham?”

can be answered several ways,
​and it is important to make some distinctions. There is the Seed of Abraham (Seed being singular); there is the seed of Abraham physically (descendants of Abraham according to the flesh); and there is the seed of Abraham spiritually(those who, like Abraham, have faith in God).

The (singular) Seed of Abraham is Christ, as Galatians 3:16, quoting Genesis 12:7, says, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.” The passage goes on to explain that an inheritance was promised to Abraham’s Seed (Christ) apart from the Law. Later, the Mosaic Law was introduced, but it did not annul the promises made to Abraham or to Abraham’s Seed (Christ).


There is a "mystery" the Bible speaks of in regard to ethnic Israel,

but when the signs of Christ's return are near,

it is clear that the Gospel

must be preached to the Jew first

then Gentile.

Another indication -why it hasn't been preached to Israel before-

out of respect,



​yet the time has come. 

​

Just as Abraham believed
God and his faith was counted as righteousness
(Genesis 15:6),


so are all today

who believe in God’s Son justified

apart from the Law.


In this way, Abraham is the “father” of all who believe
(Romans 4:11–17). “If you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise”
(Galatians 3:29).

Of course, the seed of Abraham can also refer to the Hebrew people who descended from Abraham through Isaac. Still more broadly, the seed of Abraham could include Arabs, who trace their lineage through Ishmael. This is the physical seed of Abraham.


The spiritual seed of Abraham

(believers in Jesus Christ)

is comprised of people of

all nationalities and ethnicities.


​
The Jewish religious leaders of the first century

took pride

in that they were Abraham’s seed.


They saw their physical connection to Abraham as a guarantee
of God’s favor.
This attitude kept them from seeing their need
for repentance of the heart--
and brought condemnation from John the Baptist,
who warned them to repent.
Anticipating their fallback argument that they were the seed of Abraham, John said, “Do not think you can say to yourselves,
"We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham”
(Matthew 3:9).


Jesus dealt with the same issue later.


In speaking to the unbelieving Jews,
Jesus emphasized their need to receive His words as truth
and obey His commands.

They replied, “We be Abraham’s seed”
(John 8:33, KJV).
Jesus then rebukes them for plotting ways to murder Him;
their stubborn response was again,
“Abraham is our father”
(verse 39a).

At this, Jesus makes a distinction between the physical seed of Abraham
and the true, spiritual seed of Abraham:

“If you were Abraham’s children . . .
then you would do what Abraham did” (verse 39b).

The conversation heats up as the Jews for a third time
reference their connection to Abraham:

"Are you greater than our father Abraham?”
​
they ask Jesus (verse 53).


Jesus provokes them further:
“Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day;
he saw it and was glad”
(verse 56).
​
The Jews’ are incredulous that Jesus would claim
to be a contemporary of Abraham,

and that’s when Jesus brings the exchange to a climax with
a claim to full deity:

“Very truly I tell you, . . .
before Abraham was born,
​
​
I am!”
​

(verse 58).
In a fury, the Jews attempted to stone Jesus (verse 59),
again proving that being the physical seed of Abraham is not enough--
they had to be born again (John 3:3).

Paul sums up the difference between the
seeds of Abraham
in Romans 2:28–29:
“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.

No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the


heart, by the Spirit,


not by the written code.
Such a person’s praise is not from other people,
​
​but from God.”


​

Could you possibly imagine how MUCH Joy and delight
God would have if

his physical seed, also became his spiritual seed?

It's both full and in complete harmony!
Fulfilling "all the words of his law."
Together as one!
Israel returns to the father... Out of the wilderness,
the lost bride, reunited to the bridegroom.

That is God's Story!

So many hills and valleys,
a long and winding journey to the promised land,

reunited and home at last!

The lord is faithfully and patiently waiting for this day,
so that all the nations can rejoice together

in his re-unification with his lost bride, Israel,

his treasured possession,
​

the apple of his eye! 




​
Romans 11:12

 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond Recovery?
Certainly not!

Why? Because we have Jesus- the forgiver of all sins!
However, because of their trespass,

salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 

But if their trespass means riches for the world, 
and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, 
​
​

​ How MUCH GREATER

​riches will

​their fullness bring! 



​

Cross References


​Acts 3:21
Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.


Romans 11:25
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.


Treasury of ScriptureNow if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?


​Romans 11:15,33
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? … 

Romans 9:23
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Ephesians 3:8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
diminishing.

Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Isaiah 11:11-16
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea… 

Isaiah 12:1-6
And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me…

​

A kingdom divided,  

​not built on firm foundation,

will fall. 

​

Why so many labels, pronouns, and identities?

​And What is "Christian Nationalism?"
​

If you watch certain news organizations, you'd think it was a huge part of reality. America, and the world, has never been
so divided on what constitutes
​
perception, reality, and truth. 
​

Honestly, I don't know what that term even is- "Christian Nationalism." If it exists, it's -incredibly small- and being way over-represented in media. Much like anything else that is a tiny percentage being radically over-represented or over enforced, it -skews- the entire perception of the weight of the part -in relation- to the implications of the whole. People who don't truly understand Christianity, or grasp the truth, can mischaracterize and misjudge anything based off of radicalism. It's probably easy to want to find a solution by over focusing on the wrong thing.

I've never heard of anyone who's heard of anyone that knows what this is. And for whatever their beliefs may be, we should be able to accurately decipher what it is that is a threat to human prosperity. Many Are mislead on the truth. I've only recently heard of this term, only from Media sources that support specific political ideologies. Christianity is the most culturally and racially diverse, peaceful, prosperous and accepting movement to have ever existed among the human population. Slander never suited anyone well, and we've seen it many times throughout history. We can not say that Muslims are bad people because of a small radical group who are bad.

Violence is never okay, and should be equally denounced in any situation. Violence in one uprising shouldn't be overlooked in preference of another uprising- peacefully discussing why it's occurring and what policies best remedy it is the answer- not-  by canceling or shaming- which much worsens it. 

​What we really need to decipher is what is true, and what
truly threatens human prosperity.
What is the threat, and how much of a threat is it, and why? 


We need to be careful when we start labeling and creating division off of identity or politics. It's the same for any type of slander or bias in any direction. It distorts the correct interpretation. 

Christianiy is not about religion, identity, or politics. People who know the living God and acknowledge it to be true and are faithful to that, are what you can call Christians. That is our worldview. Ideology is not identity, and ideologies have value structures. Our value is in and from who God is, not who we are or man-made identity. We are more than this physical realm, and are faithful to that. We know the living God, his word, and uphold his laws- God is higher than government. 

This country was not founded on nationalism or Christianity in labeling terms,  I have no idea what "white nationalism" is and truly don't think it's more than a minuscule percentage of the population, certainly not what is truly threatening us. The danger lies in grouping people together based off race, religion, identity, or politics, and people who stand for truth have to acknowledge what is true. You can't judge anyone off of radicalism. The original problem with this began in 2015- when the media wasn't willing to respect or listen to all people and America dissented into cancel culture tactics to achieve ideological control, and that doesn't work. What we see in the media doesn't reflect reality or the vast majority. We saw the uprising of tactics used in cultural Marxism to insert control over speech and media. Freedom of speech can not be controlled. Just because someone doesn't like the truth, doesn't mean they can cancel the truth from being spoken. Truth never changes, only our understanding or interpretation of the truth does. 

If we don't debate truth, we can't wrestle over the best ideas. This is the tragedy in universities. If we don't have an equal right to speak the truth and pursue the truth, then we don't hear or know the truth, and we wander further from the truth. We unravel into destruction against the laws of nature. 


It's deceptive. 
​

That's when uprisings occur- people who are tired of "being polite" in their silence, are speaking up...

​and getting louder. 
​

Loving others and yourself, peace, prosperity, and being witness to and upholding the truth defines Christianity.

Government policies are not the focus, but they do reflect our ability to practice our Faith.

Religious freedom, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state are important for a functioning society predicated on
​mutual respect.

In America, we all have a right to public education and resources. We finance the government, we pay taxes for public education, not for political indoctrination in schools. Political indoctrination in education has never been this severe. Christianity is not in public education or government. Over the past decade, the government, media, cdc, Facebook, Twitter, school boards, academia, and even healthcare has far too overstepped it's authority, and the response to the pandemic further proved this. Gender ideology in media, government, children shows, and mainly public education is a violation to religious liberty, and it's being ignored by government. Accepting a small minority shouldn't result in altering the fundamental course of the majority. Government mandates, shutdowns, vaccines, pronouns, questionnaires, etc.. that is not working with followers of Christ and is pushing them out of public education and government. They are also the majority, and are either being unrepresented, wrongly represented, or just silenced and ignored. That is a deception of truth. 

​
People need to start listening to each other. If people had respect, they wouldn't feel the need to address the "name-game, shame-game" tactics that seem to be leading people astray from a truthful and prosperous society. 


We cant fix problems without identifying the cause. 

It wasn’t the pandemic; it was largely the response to it. 

Source, response

Cause, affect

Truth, perception

🙃

A lot of tragedies, in their own definition are horrific,  are trying to fix themselves with perceived remedies that 

...don’t produce actual remedy. 

The universe can only function off of acknowledging what is true, thats the reoccurring pattern- theres always rising universal consequences in building off of what is untrue. Thats why we seek the truth. Sources exist and are meant to be discovered. When certainity is reached, its known. 

Truth is knowable, truth is provable. Sources matter- otherwise our perception of truth isnt founded on truth. 

We are under the universal laws of the creator of this existence.

Its not human opinion or bias, It is just...   

​what is. 
​

Truth is probably offensive- but its unchangeable. Its truth. Cause and effect always reoccurs. We need to acknowledge the effect- whether thats offensive to us, sadly, doesn’t matter- because we dont create universal laws, and cant change them. 

We want to avoid the consequences of suffering, and it starts with the truth of any source in any circumstance. If it's not the truth, it won't work. Just as good parents warn their children about what is dangerous and wrong, truthfulness has implications as well.  The truth is that radical Islam is a radically more significant threat to global peace and prosperity than "radical Christianity."  To imply that to mean anything other than what it truly does has implications- totalitarianism, communism, recession and security are much larger threats to peace and prosperity than perceived Christian bias or conservatism, or perceived racism in America.  If we silence people for acknowledging the cause to a warranted outcome because we don't agree, the solution never comes but gets far worse.  The media isn't reflecting the truth, and there's global consequences to that. The media wants to create and inflate its own truth, and there's consequences to that as well. People can be respectful, fair, and disagree at the same time. What is just and noble always prevails over tyranny. ​If it's not fair, it eventually fails.. or we end up in a global communist surveillance state with no free will. 

We are reaping severe consequences and should decide if we are
​awake, or woke. 

Human perception may not align with existing truth, but truth still exists and continues on its course anyway- as always proven. Humans cant create or determine their own truth- the universe has a system, we need to pursue what that is to the best of our ability, and seek the truth until certainty, otherwise we create more chaos thats opposing the created order. 

This is exactly what America was founded on- the pursuit of truth and prosperity, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. That is the American foundation that has crumbled. Those who defend the constitution defend those values, those values create the best chance for a peaceful and prosperous society. Until they're gone. Race and identity are irrelevant, so Americans would be wise to not misuse and mislabel terms such as "nationalism." 

Nothings perfect (other than God and his plan) no one is. We all have struggles and why we are handed different struggles is difficult to grapple with, but we are all equal in his eyes. We are equally imperfect (me first!). We need god. Thats why he created us and revealed himself to us- not just for our future forever home, but now- more specifically- because when times get worse- and they will- and they will continue to increase in frequency and intensity- its much easier to be prepared in knowledge of the truth and relationship with our living and coming savior, who delivers us from our sorrows during tribulation and tragedy. 

The labor pains are in the beginning stages, we are living in revelation, prophecies are fulfilling, and we are experiencing both global physical and spiritual battles. Just as he said. 


Whether we have a relationship with our creator Now in this existence, or after we cross this physical realm into a better age, we will all meet our creator.


God is real, God heals, and God is for everyone.


​
We are all invited into the glory of knowing our savior now. . ​
​
​
​
​Jesus is our living hope!

​
​Maranatha! 
​

​​Everyone, every single one of us, wants to be happy.
However, although we all experience moments of happiness, we rarely meet people who are truly happy.

​
Unlike feelings of excitement which are based on temporary circumstances – because we’ve received a gift or good news – real happiness is an anchor of deep and enduring joy that persists even when life’s circumstances are not in our favor.


HOW DO WE ATTAIN SUCH JOY? HOW DO WE BECOME TRULY HAPPY?

In a survey conducted in 2012 at the University of San Diego, students were asked to rank their life goals from a list with twenty different options, which included a number of impressive objectives such as: making a contribution to science, raising a family, helping others who are in difficulty, influencing social values, helping to promote racial understanding, and more. The highest ranking goal among the students was “being very well off financially”. Almost 75% of the students ranked “being rich” as their number one goal in life.

There’s no doubt that money enables us to live more comfortable and easier lives, a higher standard of living, but a higher standard of living does not promise a higher quality of life.

The cliché that says money can’t buy happiness is true. In fact, oftentimes among people who have very little you can find quite a lot of happiness. But the world tries to convince us that in order to be happy, we have to be rich. TV commercials and Hollywood movies give the illusion that, if we only had a fancier house, an expensive car, and a couple million dollars in the bank we could be truly happy. History, however, is filled with examples of people who had everything and nothing. They reached the top only to discover that there wasn’t anything there.It’s no coincidence that in the past few years, the media has covered countless stories of celebrities and billionaires who put an end to their lives.

Likewise during the times of the Bible, King Solomon who had it all, opened the book of Ecclesiastes with this conclusion:

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

In other words, the myth that the more we have the happier we’ll be isn’t something new. We all know or know of wealthy people who just aren’t happy. The key to happiness isn’t wealth and, in fact, has nothing to do with material possessions.



THEY KEY TO HAPPINESS IS GRATITUDE

That's right, in order to be happy we need to be grateful, and being grateful is a challenge especially in this age in which so many people feel entitled, that they have the right to demand for things. The narcissistic and egoistic belief that “I deserve it!”, which plagues our times, spawned an entire generation that disdains authority, establishments, and leaders.
​
“Leaders are asking the Millennials: ‘What do you want?’ And Millennials are saying: ‘We want to work in a place with purpose. We want to make an impact. We want free food, and bean bags.’ Somebody articulates some sort of purpose. There’s lots of free food, and there’s bean bags, and yet for some reason, they are still not happy.” Simon Sinek

Our parents have told us our entire lives that we’re special, and if we have the will – we can achieve anything we set our minds to, but in real life, this saying is not only wrong, but even when we’ve finally gotten that car or trip we’ve always wanted to have it might thrill and excite us for a while, it won’t really satisfy us or make us happy deep within.

This cavity that we have deep inside our hearts is something we’ve learned well to hide. We live in a world in which FaceBook and Instagram provide us with this mask, and we’re good at filtering everything and showing everybody how “great” life is despite the fact that deep inside we might be depressed, confused, and unsatisfied with life.

We have everything we could possibly need to be happy, but we’re not. Even when we get what we want, it’s not enough, or we get tired of it and want something else.

We all know this feeling – you got what you wanted, you were delighted and excited, but after a while the excitement died down and you went on to chase the next toy. It doesn’t matter how much we have, it doesn’t matter how much more we’ll make, how much more we’ll buy and win, the satisfaction and the happiness they bring us will always be nothing more than temporary. And so we’ve gotten used to living from one short term pleasure to the next, from one temporary satisfaction to the next. But in between these moments, we feel meaningless and empty, and we try to hide behind “special effects” and “filters”.

On the other hand, now and then we’ll hear about people who went through traumatic experiences, about people who have very little, or about people who lost so much but despite all this remain deeply joyful. Note for instance the words of Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs:

“You can either be angry for what you don’t have or thankful for what you do have. Do your best and God will do the rest.” Nick Vujicic 

Why is Nick so joyful? Because he’s grateful. 


HAPPINESS DOESN’T MAKE US GRATEFUL, IT’S GRATITUDE THAT MAKES US TRULY HAPPY AND JOYFUL.

 “Gratitude” is being happy with your lot.

“Gratitude” is knowing that you don’t deserve anything, and that’s why you appreciate everything that you do have.
“Gratitude” is never taking anything for granted. So long as we take things for granted, and live with the mindset of “I deserve it!”, we won’t be able to be joyful.

We are especially grateful when we receive something we didn’t earn, buy, or deserve.

When we receive a gift of great value that we didn’t do anything to obtain, but rather it was given to us as a free gift, we feel grateful. 

This is called grace.

Grace is when you’re given something even though you don’t deserve it or even deserve the complete opposite. 

It makes you truly grateful, it’s humbling, and if it comes from someone you hurt in the past, it restores the broken relationship between you and it makes you feel humble, meek, and grateful toward this person.

But we don’t want gratefulness to be a feeling we experience only a few times or only towards a few people, we want gratefulness to be a way of life, towards everyone, all the time. Nobody owes us electricity, a roof over our heads, fashionable clothes, entertainment, cars, medicine, technology, and a large variety of food at the supermarket. We tend to take these luxuries for granted.

In order to be grateful in our human existence, we need to live in the moment and be aware of the “now”.In other words, to know that we don’t ‘deserve’ these moments. Every second of our lives, every breath that we take, is an undeserved gift of grace. We can’t be certain that we’ll have more moments like these in the future, perhaps our time will come tomorrow and we’ll be no more. Once we’re grateful for life itself, we can no longer take everything else we have for granted, like food and clothes. Therefore, we need to be grateful for the present, and the present is always present!


IF WE’LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESENT, WE’LL ALWAYS BE JOYFUL AS WELL.

While running this race in life, sometimes we forget to just stop and take a look around, and when we forget to stop, we miss out on life.
Think about small children, who are mesmerized by every new thing. 
The universe God created is amazing,
​and even though we know very well how to make use of it for our own personal ends – and that’s ok, since we do need to sustain ourselves – sometimes we just need to stop, be still, and be silent. 
It reminds us that we don’t have control over everything and allows us to wonder at God’s creation and thank Him:
​
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10)

So what if we really stopped taking life for granted? What if we were grateful to God for giving us minds that can think, research, and discover the nature he created for us, so that we can enjoy all the blessings he offers us?

What if we were grateful for our ability to see colors, to experience tastes, hear sounds, and touch and feel in so many different ways?

What if, instead of complaining about the bad customer service at the shoe store, we were grateful that we could even allow ourselves to buy shoes? What if, instead of complaining to the waiter about the sogginess of the french fries, we were grateful that we even had anything to eat? Not to mention the privilege of being able to dine at a restaurant. What if, instead of complaining about all the things we hate at work, we were grateful that we even had a source of income? 

If we would just stop taking things for granted we would realise that we have so much to be grateful for.

True, we can’t always be grateful for everything. We don’t need to be grateful for evil and malice. We don’t need to be grateful for the loss of a friend or for a disease, but even during difficult times as these or any trial that comes our way even then we can be grateful and rejoice in the new opportunities that arise from the situation, as hard as it may be –
to learn, to change, to mature, and to
​start anew.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2-3)

The bottom line is, we always have something to be grateful for.

IT’S BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN THAT BEING GRATEFUL CAUSES US TO BE HAPPY

In 2011, the medical department at Harvard University published a study titled: “Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier”. The study concluded that:

“Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.” (excerpt from study)
Being thankful for material things is great, but these things are only temporary. For instance, it only takes us a few months after recovering from an illness to forget that we were sick at all. Earthly things, as wonderful as they may be, only give us short term pleasure. 

Therefore, we need to be grateful for something long-term, something eternal, something spiritual.

When Jesus gave his disciples the authority to heal the sick and cast out demons and evil spirits, the disciples were thrilled and excited:
“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ (Luke 10:17)
But Jesus challenged them to not base their happiness on miracles and supernatural wonders, but rather on their eternity:

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

Being grateful for as many things as possible and at all times is the will of God in the life of every believer:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

History is filled with stories of people who despite having found themselves in difficult circumstances, were able to retain their joy and peace. When Job became sick and lost everything, he didn’t complain – his joy and peace were deeply rooted in the Lord:

“And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ ” (Job 1:21)

If you are strong inside, then external circumstances can impact you, but much less. The Apostle Paul begged God to take away what he called his “thorn in the flesh”:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

The Apostle Paul’s joy and happiness were not dependant on his circumstances, not even when he experienced weaknesses, hardships, and calamities, rather that his joy came from a heavenly source. We need to reach this point as well, when we rejoice even when things are tough.Like the Apostle Paul, we cannot be people who require certain ordeals or circumstances in order to be grateful and happy. Rather we must live with gratitude, a life of gratitude.

Circumstances change, and what can we do – we won’t always stay healthy. After all, one day, all of us as well as those close to us will die. 
In other words, there needs to be another reason for us to have gratitude a cosmic reason, a reason that has nothing to do with our corporeal reality, but a transcendental reason, a reason whose source is spiritual.

We mentioned before that when we’re given a gift of great value without having done anything to earn it, it makes us grateful in the most meaningful way. As believers, in a spiritual sense, we can remind ourselves every day that we received the most valuable gift ever for free. While we were so underserving of such a gift, the Messiah gave his life for us, as a sacrifice and atonement for our sins. We didn’t do a single thing to earn this incredible gift of grace, and we cannot take it for granted.


THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS THE MESSIAH IS A DAILY SOURCE FOR ETERNAL GRATITUDE

This isn’t temporary happiness, giddiness, or excitement but steadfast joy – that we can always depend on. We can analogize this to the contrast between crashing waves on the shoreline, that can be large and exciting for a few seconds only in shallow water, and between the heart of an ocean, which may look calm and serene on the surface but has incredible depth and power. This is what real spiritual happiness, rooted in the Lord, is like.

This isn’t a fleeting moment of euphoric feelings, this is something

so much deeper and lasting – this is joy.

When a person dedicates one’s whole life to you, it brings you joy. When a person sacrifices everything especially for you, it brings you joy. The knowledge that the Messiah dedicated his enter life for us and sacrificed himself for us is not just a reason for us to have joy – it’s the reason!


A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Isaiah 54 opens with the declaration concerning the barren woman, who breaks forth in joyful singing. During this time period, the purpose of a woman’s life was to start a family, to have children. Barren women were regarded by society as “damaged” women, useless women. The prophet Isaiah, after his prophecy in chapter 53 which describes the death of the Messiah on our behalf, begins with the description of abounding joy that even reaches the poor outcasts of society, barren women. Because of chapter 53, the barren woman’s joy is not based on her ability to bear children, but rather on one thing only – the Messiah! But it’s not something that happens automatically. Gratitude is a conscious and wilful act.

This means that happiness is the result of a choice. 
The barren woman had to choose: whether to sink into depression and feelings of self-pity or whether to rejoice in her lot. In other words, she chose to be grateful. Maybe we grew up in a house where there were constant complaints or perhaps we tend to be very critical, and that’s why we instinctively respond with grumblings and complaints. But these also are our own decisions – to poison ourselves. It also shows that our feelings control us and not the other way around. Happiness is a choice, a choice to be happy with out lot, a choice to be grateful for every moment that was given us as a gift. Happiness isn’t something that just comes on it’s own, rather it’s a conscious decision that we have to make.

The Apostle Paul entreated the Philippians to:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
If happiness wasn’t up to us and if it wasn’t a decision we are called to make,Paul wouldn’t have bothered to urge the Philippians to choose happiness. But there is no doubt that Paul regarded happiness as a decision, and that’s why he required them to make a decision – to rejoice!
And not just them – rejoice always!

As mentioned before, the opposite of living gratefully is living with the mindset of entitlement, “I deserve it!”.We’re not generally very grateful when we think we deserve something. Likewise, when we’re busy grumbling and complaining we don’t have time to rejoice.

Grumbling and complaining is our greatest enemy that eats away at our joy.
The greatest enemy of gratefulness is complaining, and that’s why the Apostle

​Paul also said to the Philippians:
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” (Philippians 2:14)

Peter also wrote similarly:
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

And James also wrote:
“Do not grumble against one another, brothers.” (James 5:9)
Our perfect example is of course Jesus, who himself had to endure the most terrible thing of all, sufferings and agonizing death. Jesus didn’t grumble and complain about his grim fate, and even as he was dying he sought to serve others:

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ ” (Luke 23:34)

HAPPINESS AND JOY DO NOT HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN, BUT RATHER THEY ARE A NATURAL RESULT OF GRATITUDE.

Gratitude is a conscious decision. The greatest example of a grateful life is embodied in Jesus the Messiah, who taught that the more we seek God’s will, and, as we saw, God’s will among other things is being grateful, the more our joy will be complete and full.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)

In conclusion, if we won’t make a conscious decision to rejoice, we’ll end up by default – unhappy. Why? Because our back hurts, there’s no money in our bank account, our boss is annoying, we didn’t find a parking spot, we were asked to do something we just don’t want to do, or because we didn’t have a good night’s rest.

And that’s why, we’re called upon every day anew to choose – joy!
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24)

Jesus’ life was characterized by joy.

When the angel appeared to Shepherds announcing Jesus’ birth, he said, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10).
Jesus’ ministry was punctuated with joy as he healed the sick, mentored the apostles, and preached the good news. His messages were positive, uplifting and encouraging. Even when he spoke regarding possible persecution for his followers, he admonished, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matt 5:12).

The Jesus I read about in the gospel accounts was not a dour, sour, pessimistic person. He radiated joy. He brought a smile to the face of little children. And he gave sinners like the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, and the woman caught in adultery a reason to rejoice.

Even in the shadow of his impending death, Jesus would lift the sorrowing hearts of the apostles, by promising, “your sorrow will be turned into joy” (Jn 16:20). “These things I have spoken to you,” Jesus encouraged,”that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jn 15:11).
​
Here are the 5 major points I took away from Tim’s lesson that can fill our hearts with joy.
​
(1) Rejoice in your salvation.
Those who received Jesus found joy. Following the Ethiopian Treasurer’s conversion, “he went on his way rejoicing” (Ax 8:39). The pagan Philippian jailer “rejoiced” after his sins were washed away.
Tim Jennings was right. Sin saps our souls of joy. But when we come to know “the joy of salvation” (Ps 51:12), we can rejoice in spite of living in a fallen, broken world.
(2) Rejoice that your life has significance.
Beginning with Jesus’ mother, Mary, who was chosen to carry the Christ-child, to those who were converted to His cause, and proclaimed His message, lives were changed. Doors of opportunity were opened. Hope was elevated. And a life of meaning, purpose, and significance was experienced.
What on earth are you here for? Tim’s answer was simple. “I am here for him.” The atheist, Bertrand Russell was right, “Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.” But He does exist. And Jesus lives. That provides my life purpose. And joy.
(3) Rejoice in your spiritual family.
The apostle Paul found joy in the family of Believers (1 Thess. 2:19-20). God created us for community. He formed us for family. And provided a place to belong. We can rejoice in our relationships with fellow Christians in Jesus’ spiritual Body, the church.
(4) Rejoice in the lost being saved.
The trilogy of Jesus’ parables in Luke 15 reminds us that the angels in heaven rejoice when the lost are found. So, should we. There’s no greater joy than seeing sinners come to Christ. Unless it is a personal involvement in their obedience.
(5) Rejoice that you have a heavenly home.
John symbolically paints a picture of heaven in the book of Revelation. It’s a place of joy. No tears. No sorrow. No heartache. No sickness. No death. It is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of preparing a place for us (John 14;1-3).
“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing, observed S. D. Gordon. “Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy


​Amen.