Worthy Brief - 1/27/2023
Friend, learning to rest, even in labor ...
Luke 10:41.And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
One of my heroes of the faith, Watchman Nee, once said something profound about entering the rest of God. He said, "Carnal Christians crave works; yet amid many labors, they are unable to maintain calm in their spirit. They cannot fulfill God's orders quietly as can the spiritual believers... their hearts are governed by outward matters. Being "distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40) is the characteristic of the work of any soulish believer. They have not yet entered the rest of God.”
Now that Martha is in Heaven (for some 2000 years) I have often wondered how she feels about being an example of distraction and carnality, and to what extent it's possible to move away from that kind of activity into a place of rest and peace and relationship as we serve the Lord.
The Sabbath is certainly an opportunity to discover and practice the kind of rest and abiding in Yeshua that Watchman recommends here. All of us have experienced "spiritual" activity which is distracted, performance based, and undoubtedly less fruitful and effectual than it could be. But must it always be so? The Lord would not have rebuked Martha if He didn't hope and expect her to learn from His admonition.
Friend, there's no question that we can learn a more mature way of serving. Mary has shown us the way, and Shabbat is the perfect opportunity to learn it. Sit at His feet, quietly, attentively, and learn of Him. Entering deeply into His rest will change the way you work, all the following week. And by resting well, we improve the quality of our work and even multiply our time. We give, He adds. We divide, He multiplies. We rest, and because of our abiding, He works. Shabbat Shalom!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
Baltimore, Maryland
Registration is closing soon! 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.
Iran can fuel ‘several’ atomic bombs: UN nuclear official
Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to build "several" nuclear weapons if it chooses, the United Nations’ top nuclear official is now warning. But diplomatic efforts aimed at again limiting its atomic program seem more unlikely than ever before as Tehran arms Russia in its war on Ukraine and as unrest shakes the Islamic Republic.
Migrant Facing Expulsion Kills Church Worker In Spain, Injures Priest
A young Moroccan man who faced deportation from the country allegedly killed a church caretaker and injured a priest in southern Spain, authorities said Thursday.
Massive Russian Attacks On Ukraine After West Pledges Tanks (Worthy News Radio)
Air raid sirens wailed across Ukraine early Thursday as Russia attacked with scores of missiles and drones. The attacks came hours after the U.S. and Germany pledged to send advanced battle tanks to halt the Russian invasion.
Ukraine Under Massive Russian Attacks After West Pledges Tanks
Air raid sirens wailed across Ukraine early Thursday as Russia attacked with dozens of missiles, 24 hours after the U.S. and Germany pledged to send advanced battle tanks to halt the Russian invasion.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli military carries out airstrikes in Gaza Strip
Israeli forces on Thursday killed nine Palestinians — including at least seven militants and a 61-year-old woman — in the deadliest single incident in the occupied West Bank in two decades, Palestinian officials said. Two rockets were fired from Gaza early Friday and Israel responded with airstrikes on the territory, further escalating tensions.
‘Israel Raids Refugee Camp After Militant Attacks; Several Killed’
Israeli forces raided the Palestinian Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-controlled West Bank after threats by militants, killing as many as 13 Palestinians, several sources said.
Inside the United States
House Prepares First Hearing on Biden’s COVID-19 Response
House Republicans have called top U.S. health officials to testify in their first hearings about the Biden administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomberg reported.
BREAKING: Officers Charged With Killing Black Man
Authorities urged the public to remain calm as five former police officers in the U.S. State of Tennessee were charged with second-degree murder after a Black man died following a traffic stop.
Abortion pill manufacturer sues West Virginia over state restrictions on the drug
A manufacturer of abortion pills has filed suit against West Virginia, arguing the state’s restrictions on access to the medication conflicts with congressional authority given to the Food and Drugs Administration to determine which medications are safe for the public, the Hill reports. Following the reversal of Roe v Wade in June last year, West Virginia instituted a ban on abortion at all stages, with exceptions for medical emergencies, rape and incest.
Christian News
US Hispanic Protestant church is young, growing, effective in evangelism, study shows
A new study shows that the Hispanic protestant community in the US is flourishing, with a rapidly increasing number of churches, a strong base of young congregants and first-generation American citizens, and a strong record in effective evangelistic outreach, Lifeway Research reports. The study was sponsored by Lifeway Recursos, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Samaritan’s Purse, and surveyed 692 pastors of congregations that are at least 50 percent Hispanic.
United Methodist Church loses more than 1,800 congregations over LGBTQ debate, “not a real schism”
America’s United Methodist Church has now lost over 1,800 congregations as conservative churches have disaffiliated with the denomination over UMC acceptance of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, Christianity Today (CT) reports. Nevertheless, analysts have said the rate of disaffiliation does not represent a major schism and the denomination is expected to survive.