“For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.”
Isaiah 14:1
President Trump’s recent trip to Israel to celebrate the return of the hostages was truly something to behold.
Among the most moving was his meeting with families of Israeli hostages, including those still waiting for the return of their children’s bodies from Hamas. His address to the Knesset was historic — and the reception he received including a two minute standing ovation at the start, was far warmer than his last State of the Union before Congress.
Toward the end of his remarks, Trump said:
“For thousands of years, Jerusalem has been a home to Christians, Jews, Muslims, and people of all ethnicities and creeds… Between the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, and that Hill called Calvary, people of every faith live, work, pray, serve, and raise their families side by side—with love. This example is one of the modern miracles Israel has given to the world.”
Poetic. And true!
Believers see divine purpose in this moment – this small strip of land remains central to the most important events in our history: His Birth, Death, Resurrection, and soon, His Return.
As a reminder, the Jews laid claim to Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria when Washington, D.C., and London were mere swamps. In fulfillment of prophecy, Christ entered the world thousands of years later. And yes — Muslims arrived six centuries after that.
Muslims and “Palestinians”, though not the indigenous people of the Holy Land, are image bearers as each and every human is and deserve peace and dignity. As these significant events unfold, and we honor those Arab countries working toward this end with others in the Abrahamic Accords, may we lean into God and ask that His will be done…on earth as it is in heaven.
They Are Free – From the Land of the Dying and into the Land of the Living
Charlie Kirk and Pastor Voddie Baucham have gone Home – but their legacies can inspire and encourage us to pursue the call of Christ in our lives. Recently, the Washington Stand shared three biblical principles Charlie and Voddie exemplified and that each of us can and should emulate:
1. They fixed their eyes on Christ and boldly shared the gospel (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Voddie encouraged sharing the gospel, saying it’s easier than we think. “Our job is to make the gospel clear, to make much of Christ, to let the sinner know that they are in jeopardy and that there is Good News – God has provided an answer in the person of Jesus Christ.”
Charlie was asked what he would tell someone who had 30 seconds left to live. He answered:
“You’re about to meet eternal judgment. And there’s only one way that you can get bailed out… It’s not all the good things you did… It’s whether you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The answer to that singular question, ‘Who is Jesus Christ?’ is the most important question for everyone.”
2. They were prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope they had (1 Peter 3:15).
Charlie and Voddie practiced apologetics. Apologetics answers life’s hard questions, such as “Who am I?, What is my purpose?, What happens when I die?” & “Why is there suffering ?”
3. They loved God and their neighbors by engaging in politics.
Both understood that sharing the gospel was the most important action we can take, but that doesn’t mean we should stay out of the details of public policy or politics. Jesus calls us to be the salt and light in every sphere of influence. (Matthew 5:15)
In (Acts 9:15), Saul, who would become the great Apostle Paul, was told by Ananias that he was a chosen instrument to carry God’s name to gentiles, kings and the people of Israel. People in positions of power in Government, an institution created by God for our good, need Truth to be able to discern what is good and what is evil. The passage emphasizes that despite the great commission, Saul would have to suffer for His name’s sake.
Let us each be inspired by what we are seeing at this moment in time to move forward boldly with clarity and with grace…for His glory.