Worthy Brief - 1/2/2023
Friend, live the blessed paradox life!
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek was king of Salem, kohen of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,
Hebrews 7:7 Now it is beyond dispute that the lesser is blessed by the greater.
Our life, the life of faith, is pervaded by paradox. Life faces us with apparently irreconcilable conditions and realities which we struggle to understand and integrate, sometimes throughout an entire lifetime. The Lord himself exemplifies this reality in his dual identity as the express image of God and a fully human male, who suffered the worst consequences of sin...without deserving them. We live daily within the paradox of God's perfect holiness and our fundamental human imperfection, needing constantly to accept His grace as we strive toward His perfection.
Much of the life of faith is learning to abide in love and peace within our paradoxical existence, and Yeshua gave us His Holy Spirit to make it possible. He also offered us a pile of "paradoxical" advice exhorting us to behave or respond opposite to human nature. You want to be great in the Kingdom? Become a servant to all. An enemy strikes your left cheek? Turn to him the right one. Overcome evil with good. There are many of these if you look for them, and they begin to describe a lifestyle which distinguishes a true believer in ever increasing uniqueness.
This passage in Hebrews reveals that Melchizedek blessed Abraham, according to this principle: the lesser is blessed by the greater. Given the greatness of Abraham, we might be surprised to discover the dimension of Melchizedek's status. His name means "My King is Righteousness", suggesting that he is a type of Messiah, and quite (paradoxically) qualified to bless the father of faith.
Friend,
this paradoxical life, perplexing, frustrating, tempting, tormenting as it is, incites most of us to react badly in one way or another, producing endless cycles of revenge, hatred, retribution, and remorse. But God, who is the greatest of all, blesses us who are "lesser".
And He also invites us to the greatness of blessing...our neighbors, our children, even our enemies. The temptation of paradox is overcome by the opportunity to bless. It's a way of God whose life and heart are full of blessing. If we desire to be like Him, increasing in stature and overcoming evil, we'll seek the Spirit's power to bless others.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
Dallas, Texas
Join us on an epic, life changing journey through Israel, through the eyes of those who are well acquainted with the culture, the people and the Land. This is not your average Israel tour— bring your family, bring your friends, and experience the REAL ISRAEL with George and Baht Rivka as your personal hosts.
Brazil’s Controversial Lula Sworn In President
Brazil’s controversial leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was sworn in as president shortly after his predecessor left for the United States amid rising tensions.
Former Pope Benedict XVI Dies At 95
Former Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned as pontiff citing poor health, has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, the Vatican said Saturday. He died almost a decade after he stood down.
Hezbollah’s Nasrallah suffers second stroke, hospitalized in Beirut – report
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was rushed to intensive care after suffering a stroke, according to reports from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Vaccine-Evasive Omicron Subvariant on the Rise
The COVID-19 omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is quickly becoming the dominant strain in the United States. In the past week, it has doubled its spread. Now 41% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. consist of it.
Scientists Discover 100,000 Viruses Never Seen Before
Scientists have identified more than 100,000 RNA viruses that have never been seen before, a new study has revealed.
Iran holds military exercises near strategically vital Strait of Hormuz
Iran said Friday it has kicked off annual military drills Friday in the critical Strait of Hormuz even as Tehran continues its crackdown on anti-government protests that have spread throughout the country.
Belarus blames Ukraine of firing missile as war escalates (Worthy News Radio)
Belarus has accused neighboring Ukraine of firing an air defense missile into Belarusian territory. The incident raised concerns as Belarus is a close ally of Russia, which invaded Ukraine earlier this year.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iran bombs mock Israeli navy base in military exercise
Iranian forces holding military drills in the Straits of Hormuz successfully targeted a mock-up of an Israeli base Saturday, according to Iranian media accounts.
Netanyahu pans ‘despicable’ UN vote, says Jews cannot be occupiers in their own land
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the United Nations General Assembly Saturday for a resolution passed the previous day to refer Israel’s “occupation… of Palestinian territory” to the International Court of Justice, accusing the global body of “distorting historical facts” and declaring that the Jewish people cannot be “an occupier” in its own land.
Inside the United States
Ex-President Trump Under Pressure Over Tax Returns
Former U.S. President Donald Trump faced more hurdles on his attempted path to re-election Saturday after Democrats in Congress released thousands of pages of what they view as controversial tax returns.
Violent crime soars in 2022; blame pinned on too few cops, lax prosecutors, more brutal society
Homicide rates dipped in 2022, but violent crimes such as rape, robbery and assault remained dramatically higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, The Washington Times found in a review of data from police departments across the country.
Abortion doctors can’t be charged under Arizona law, court rules
An Arizona court has ruled that abortion doctors cannot be prosecuted under a pre-statehood law that criminalizes nearly all abortions yet was barred from being enforced for decades.
Earthquake rocks Northern California weeks after different strong quake
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Humboldt County, California, nearly two weeks after another strong quake hit the same area.
Christian News
Afghanistan Christians Fear Imminent Death
Minority Christians in Afghanistan enter 2023 amid fears that the ruling Taliban group will increase enforcement of “Sharia,” or Islamic, law.
Kirk Cameron’s Christian story hour draws overflow crowd after disagreement with host library
Christian actor Kirk Cameron's debut story hour for his Christian story book drew an overflow crowd to the Indianapolis Public Library.
Nigeria Islamists Burn Homes After Killing Christians
Christians in several parts of Nigeria were reeling Thursday from new attacks by Islamic fighters who reportedly torched homes and killed Christians, including a pregnant woman.
Christian Families Expelled From India Town
Some 13 Christian families in India’s central state of Chhattisgarh spent Christmas outside their homes after being beaten and expelled from a village for refusing to deny their faith in Christ, several sources said.
‘Nigerian Woman Still In Jail For Condemning Christian’s Death’
Christians have appealed for prayers and advocacy on behalf of Rhoda Ya'u Jatau, a woman detained in Nigeria since May for posting protests against the killing of a Christian student on social media.