Friend, enter into His rest that cannot be shaken!

Hebrews 12:26-29 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27  This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29  for our God is a consuming fire.

In a world trembling with uncertainty--political unrest, economic turmoil, natural disasters--God is speaking again. Not in whispers, but with the shaking that reorders lives, redefines kingdoms, and removes everything that cannot stand in the presence of His glory. He is preparing us for a kingdom that cannot be moved. But in the midst of the shaking, there is rest -- a deep, unshakable rest reserved for the people of God. Not rest as the world gives -- temporary relief or distraction -- but the kind that anchors the soul in the storm, the kind that is rooted in Yeshua (Jesus), our rest.

Just as Israel left the wilderness and entered Canaan, so we are invited to leave the wilderness of striving and fear and step into our inheritance. Canaan was not heaven -- it had battles, failures, and victories. But it was still the land of promise and rest. For us, that rest begins even now as we walk by faith and obedience. Hebrews tells us, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:6-9). That rest is both present and future -- entered by faith today and fulfilled in glory at His return. It is the rest of knowing that He is enough. That the battle is His. That the inheritance is secure. And that nothing eternal can be shaken.

Rest is not passive -- it is the result of surrender. We rest by trusting in the finished work of Yeshua. We rest by obeying His voice even when the ground beneath us quakes. Faith and obedience are not burdens--they are the wings that carry us into divine peace. Every shaking strips away the false securities of this world and drives us deeper into the one foundation that cannot be moved. The enemy cannot shake what God has sealed. Not our calling, not our future, not our peace. When everything else is removed, what remains is the eternal.

Friend, the greatest rest is still to come. When Yeshua, our greater Joshua, returns, He will calm every storm, crush every enemy, and establish His reign of perfect peace. What Canaan only foreshadowed, His Kingdom will fulfill -- freedom from toil and tears, fullness of joy, and unbroken fellowship with our King. No more struggle -- only triumph. No more shadows -- only light. And best of all, we will dwell forever in His presence, having entered His perfect Rest. So begin today -- begin this Shabbat -- to step into that rest. Lay down your striving, lift up your eyes, and let His peace rule in your heart as a foretaste of the glory to come.

Shabbat Shalom, have a great weekened, and we look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, stand in victory!

Ephesians 6:10-13  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

The Book of Joshua gives us more than a military history -- it unveils the spiritual dynamics behind every victory and defeat in the life of a believer.

Israel's stunning defeat at Ai reminds us how one hidden sin can cause spiritual collapse. God refused to bless their next battle because Achan’s disobedience defiled the camp. Ephesians 6 calls us to stand, clothed in the full armor of God, but no armor will hold if we walk in impurity. Victory requires integrity. Faith cannot thrive in the shadows of secret sin. The moment we tolerate what God has forbidden, we forfeit divine protection and invite defeat—even when our strategies seem sound.

But God's mercy always opens the door to restoration. Once Israel repented and removed the accursed thing, God told Joshua to rise and go forward. That same grace is ours today. When we confess and forsake sin, the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) cleanses us, and the Spirit reequips us. God doesn’t just forgive -- He renews. Our past failures don’t disqualify us; they can deepen our dependence and sharpen our obedience. The voice that once said “Do not go up” now says, “See, I have given it into your hand.”

Yet not all battles come with swords drawn. The enemy often comes in disguise. The Gibeonites fooled Israel with moldy bread and clever words—because Joshua and the elders “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” Likewise, many compromises in our lives begin with something that seems harmless. The devil is a master of suggestion, of false reasoning that blurs conviction with compassion. That’s why spiritual discernment is armor as much as the sword. Our best defense against deception is to stay in step with the Spirit and seek God’s voice before making any decision.

Later, when Joshua brought out the five kings from the cave and commanded his men to place their feet on their necks, it became a prophetic picture of our victory in Him. Paul tells us to stand -- not strive, because the Lord has already conquered. The enemy we face is a defeated one, and we overcome not by might, but by positioning ourselves in the triumph of Yeshua. If we are in Him, we are more than conquerors. We don’t need to beg for victory -- we need to believe, stand, and walk in it.

Even the unrelenting waves of resistance that Israel faced were orchestrated by God. Joshua 11:20 reveals that it was the Lord who hardened their enemies’ hearts -- so they would rise up and be defeated. In this, we see God's mysterious plans: every battle we face is tailor-made to train us. What feels like opposition is often a divine opportunity. The giants that stand before us today are the platforms of tomorrow’s testimony. God wastes no enemy and permits no trial without a purpose.

Friend, so stand, not in your own strength, but in the strength of the One who goes before you. The battles you face are not signs of abandonment -- they are invitations to deeper trust, fuller surrender, and greater victory. Let every defeat drive you to Him. Let every compromise be burned away by truth. Let the light of God's counsel expose every disguised enemy. And when the enemy rises again -- as he will -- remember: the ground beneath your feet is not one of fear or striving, but of conquest already won. The Captain of the Lord’s Host still stands with sword drawn, not to assist your agenda, but to lead you into His. Put on the full armor of God. Take your place. And having done all to stand.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, victory begins with a step of faith!

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Just as a bird needs both wings to fly, a victorious life requires both faith and obedience. In Joshua, God calls Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, not just with bold confidence but with complete dependence on His Word. Faith believes what God says; obedience acts upon it. One without the other stalls the journey. This moment wasn’t just about crossing into the promise land -- it was about stepping into covenant reality, where trust in God’s promise was matched by surrender to God’s command.

Faith doesn’t wait at the edge—it steps in, trusting God is already there. It doesn’t demand proof; it takes God at His Word and moves forward. That’s when the miraculous happens—the waters part, the walls fall—not before we move, but as we move. “Be strong and courageous,” God says. Real faith acts even when things are unclear, not because the path is easy, but because the promise is sure. Victory begins the moment we stop waiting and start walking.

Israel’s journey proved that faith must move. The priests stepped into the Jordan before it parted. They marched around Jericho before a single crack appeared. Persistent faith led to a breakthrough. On the seventh day, with weariness surely mounting, they marched around seven times more -- then came the shout, the crash, and the conquest. True faith obeys repeatedly, even when mocked or misunderstood, trusting that God’s promises are just around the next lap.

Even Rahab reminds us that no one is too far for faith to reach. Her scarlet cord was a lifeline of faith in God's Word, resulting in her salvation and legacy. The same faith that topples walls welcomes the outsider. One act of trust -- no matter how unlikely the vessel -- can change everything. God is not looking for pedigree, but for hearts willing to believe and obey.

Yet obedience must be exact. Achan’s hidden sin halted Israel’s advance. Saul’s partial obedience cost him a kingdom. The little compromises — what we excuse or ignore — can have significant consequences. Obedience requires attention, not assumption. Even Joshua failed to seek the Lord's counsel and made a costly treaty with the Gibeonites. The lesson? Even good intentions without divine direction can lead to bondage.

Ultimately, faith and obedience are inseparable—like two wings of the same bird, they must work together to carry us forward. Joshua fulfilled his calling not just by believing God’s Word, but by acting on it with unwavering obedience. The promise was already given. The victory was already secured. But the possession of it required both trust and action.

Friend, so it is with us. We must believe enough to move—and obey enough to persevere. When faith takes the first step and obedience stays the course, nothing can stop us from walking in the fullness of God’s promises. Rise up. The land is before you. Take it.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, step into your inheritance!

Joshua 1:2-3  “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.  3  Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 

After Moses’ death, God commissioned Joshua to lead Israel into Canaan—a real place that carried profound spiritual meaning. Canaan was not a picture of heaven, for it was filled with enemies, obstacles, and the ongoing need for faith and obedience. Instead, it symbolized the believer’s journey: a life marked by conflict and conquest, failure and faithfulness, struggle and surrender. Just as Joshua was told to rise and cross the Jordan, every follower of Christ is called to move beyond mere spiritual survival into a victorious, Spirit-empowered walk—a life that embraces the fullness of God’s promises with courage, rest, and purpose.

Joshua is the book of fulfillment—the moment the children of Israel realized that God’s promises were no longer just declared, but now had to be possessed. It reflects every believer's journey: while some remain stuck in the wilderness of spiritual frustration and defeat, others move forward into the "Promised Land" of a Spirit-filled, surrendered life. The difference isn’t about salvation, but about how fully we yield to God’s call to go deeper.

Taking the land of Canaan first and foremost represents victory—not the absence of battle, but triumph in the midst of it. Yeshua (Jesus) offers more than just forgiveness; He promises authority over sin. "Sin shall not have dominion over you." (Romans 6:10-14) By the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live as overcomers. (1 John 5:4-5)

Taking the land also represents realization—when God’s promises move from abstract truth to lived experience. The Holy Spirit brings spiritual realities to life within the believer, making them deeply personal and powerfully real. Love, joy, strength, and intimate fellowship with God are not just concepts—they become felt, known, and tangible.

Entering and possessing the land symbolizes a life of power. Just as Jericho’s walls fell—not by human strength, but by God’s command—so the believer is given spiritual authority to walk in boldness, victory, and fruitfulness, it is not by might or by effort, but by the power of the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6; Luke 10:19; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5) that strongholds fall and the life of promise unfolds.

Friend, the call to enter the land is God’s invitation to every believer to move from wandering to walking, from surviving to thriving, from promise to possession. This is not a distant idea but a present reality for those willing to trust, surrender, and obey. The inheritance is before you—rich with victory, rest, power, and divine presence. But it must be seized by faith. Just as God told Joshua, He tells us: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.” Step forward. Cross your Jordan. Claim your inheritance. The fullness of God’s promises awaits the fully surrendered heart.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, when God says Hineini!

Isaiah 58:8-9a  Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9a Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

When we hear the word Hineini—"Here I am," many of us immediately think of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 6, standing before the throne of God, overwhelmed by His holiness. After being cleansed by the burning coal, Isaiah hears the Lord ask, "Whom shall I send?" and responds with the now-famous phrase: "Hineini—Here am I. Send me."

It's a powerful moment of surrender and commissioning. But what's easy to miss is that God Himself also uses this same word in Isaiah 58:9: "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: 'Hineini.'"

Selah -- Think about that.

We usually think of Hineini as our response to God: “Here I am, send me.” It speaks of readiness, obedience, and surrender—and it is. But in this passage, we see something even more stunning—God says it first.

The God of the universe answers the cries of His people not just with action, but with His presence. He says, “Hineini”—“Here I am.”

When God called Abraham to lay his beloved son on the altar, Abraham didn't hesitate—he answered, “Hineini.” (Genesis 22:1) When God called Moses from the burning bush to confront Pharaoh and deliver a nation, Moses stood barefoot on holy ground and said, “Hineini.” (Exodus 3:4) When God’s voice thundered through the heavens in Isaiah’s vision, the prophet stepped forward and declared, “Hineini, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

But in Isaiah 58, the pattern is reversed. God says to a repentant, humbled nation: “Hineini.” He’s not just summoning us to come near—He is declaring that He already has.

He’s not far off. He’s not waiting for us to earn our way through ritual or religious perfection. He’s watching. He’s waiting. He longs for people who will humble themselves, not just with words but with their whole heart. To a repentant people, God doesn't just answer prayers—He shows up. Not through an intermediary. Not from a distance. He steps in and says, "Hineini." I’m here. I’m near. I’m with you.

Ultimately, we see Hineini in Yeshua (Jesus), who knocks at the door of every heart. In the Hebrew New Testament, Revelation 3:20 begins with this very word—Hineni—"Here am I, I stand at the door and knock..." This is a clear echo of God’s continual desire to be present, personal, and available to all who will open to Him.

Friend, so yes, let's be like Isaiah and say, "Hineini--Here am I, Lord, send me." But let's never forget--we can say it because God said it first.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, clinging to God!

Psalms 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 

Deuteronomy 10:20  You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall cling, and swear by His name.

Following Yeshua (Jesus) isn’t just about believing the right things or checking boxes. It’s about wanting to truly know God — to experience Him personally. And here’s the amazing part: even that desire starts with Him. God is the one who stirs our hearts and awakens our longing. If you find yourself hungry for more of Him, it’s because He’s already working in you.

Yeshua said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him” (John 6:44). Even as we run after God, we’re being held by His hand (Psalm 63:8). It’s a mystery — but a beautiful one. He moves first, and we respond.

But we must respond. Faith isn’t passive. Like Moses, who dared to pray, "Show me Your glory" (Exodus 33:18), or Paul, who cried out, "That I may know Him" (Philippians 3:10), we are called to pursue God with a burning desire. Salvation isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting point of a lifelong pursuit.

In Hebraic thought, this pursuit is deeply connected to the Hebrew concept of דְּבֵקוּת (Devekut), which means clinging or cleaving to God.

Devekut isn’t just about obeying God; it’s about being near Him, staying close to His presence. It’s the soul’s longing to walk in daily communion with the living God. As it says in Deuteronomy 10:20, "You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him."

Our pursuit of God is made possible through Yeshua the Messiah, who declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the living path into the Father’s presence, and through Him, the longing for devekut — deep, abiding closeness with God — is not fulfilled in a single moment, but in a lifelong, growing relationship.

Let’s never be satisfied with where we are. The saints of old weren’t content with surface-level faith — David cried out for God, and Paul gave up everything to know Him more. Why should our experience be any different? It’s time to strip away the clutter, silence the distractions, and abandon the “God and…” mentality. Let’s return to the simplicity of seeking Him alone. Even a single, honest word — “God” or “Love” — whispered from a longing heart can open the door to His presence.

Friend, this is a kingdom’s paradox of love: to have found God and still long for more of Him. Let that holy hunger define your faith. Let it drive you deeper, pull you closer, and draw you into the joy of knowing not just about Him, but knowing Him. In the end, you won’t just find peace — you’ll cling to the One your soul was made to love.

Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend! We'll see you first thing Monday morning ... until then!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, walking in royal authority!

Revelation 1:5-6  even from Jesus Christ the faithful Witness, the First-born from the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6  and made us kings and priests to God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 10:19  Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the authority of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you.

There is a sacred truth buried deep in Scripture that many believers never fully embrace: you have been given authority through the Messiah, not someday, but now. It is not reserved for the spiritually elite. It is not earned through effort. It is your inheritance as a child of God. And this authority was purchased at the Cross and activated the moment you were born again.

This divine authority is not about raw strength but about your position. Think of a traffic officer: he may not have the power to stop a car by himself, but he carries the authority of the government behind him. Likewise, as a believer, you stand not in your own power but under the royal authority of heaven—backed by the throne of the Almighty.

But there’s more: you are not only a believer—you are a king and a priest of the Most High (Revelation 1:6). That’s not poetic metaphor. That’s spiritual reality. You’ve been crowned with purpose and clothed with heavenly responsibility. A king rules with authority. A priest ministers with access. You carry both. When you recognize this identity, it changes how you walk, how you pray, how you confront darkness, and how you serve others. You begin to walk as you’re called to walk—royally, humbly, and powerfully.

Satan wants you to remain weak, defeated, and unaware of who you really are. He knows that a believer who understands their identity is dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. That’s why he works tirelessly to keep this truth hidden. Just as he blinds unbelievers to the gospel, he blinds believers to their kingdom identity—hoping they'll never rise up and walk in the authority they've been given. But Scripture doesn’t stutter. Ephesians declares that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). That’s not a position of defeat, but a position of victory and divine authority. It’s a throne room seat, not a place of pity. And from that place, you are called to reign—not with pride, but in alignment with the heart and will of your King.

It’s important to understand that this authority is not the same as spiritual gifts or emotional highs. It doesn’t depend on how we feel, but on who we are. Authority is your legal right as a citizen of the kingdom and a member of the royal family. It is exercised by faith, empowered by the Spirit, and backed by His Word.

Friend, so rise up today—not timidly, but boldly. Speak the Word of God with the authority of one who’s been entrusted with the King's seal. Resist the enemy, knowing heaven stands behind you. Intercede for others as one who wears both a crown and a priestly robe. You are more than forgiven—you are enthroned with Christ. And when you recognize that, you’ll begin to walk as you were always meant to walk—with royal confidence, priestly compassion, and unshakable authority.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, joined at the heart -- loving God by loving others!

Matthew 22:37-40  Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38  This is the first and great commandment. 39  And the second like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Many of us can recite Yeshua’s (Jesus') words about the two greatest commandments—loving God and loving our neighbor—but we often miss how deeply intertwined they are. We treat them like separate tasks: one for God, one for people. But in Greek, Yeshua uses the phrase homoia aute, which means “like to it.” The second commandment isn’t just next in line—it shares the same nature. This small detail radically changes how we understand the passage: loving others is essential to loving God.

To love God with all your heart, soul, and strength is also to love your neighbor. The two are inseparable. If we claim to adore God but harbor bitterness or indifference toward those around us, we aren’t fulfilling the first commandment at all. As John said, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20).

Every act of kindness, patience, or selfless love toward others reflects our love for God. Each interaction becomes a sacred chance to live out His heart. When we serve instead of demand, forgive instead of retaliate, and bless instead of curse, we’re not just doing good—we’re mirroring the character of our God.

Yeshua didn’t give us abstract ideals; He gave us a way to live. His commandments are not just rules, but daily invitations to shift our hearts from selfishness to love.

As we consistently walk in His ways, loving others becomes second nature because our love for God becomes alive and genuine. These two commands were never meant to stand apart—they are joined by design, each strengthening the other and drawing us deeper into relationship with Him.

Friend, this is the heartbeat of the Kingdom: love that flows upward in worship to God and outward in love, mercy, and grace toward people. It’s not a love that stays in the pews or within the pages of Scripture—it moves, it serves, and it sacrifices. And as we walk this path daily, that love begins to shape us. Slowly, we reflect the heart of the One who loved us first, whose life was the perfect picture of love in action. In following Yeshua, love becomes more than an idea—it becomes our way of life.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, the freedom that sets us free!

John 8:36  Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free [eleutheros] indeed. Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage.

In today’s culture, freedom is often defined as doing whatever you want—living without restrictions, chasing your happiness, and controlling your destiny. But when you dig into the Greek word eleutheros, meaning "free," you discover that real freedom isn’t about cutting all ties—it’s about being connected to the right things. True freedom isn’t found in isolation, but in surrender to God.

Biblical freedom doesn’t come from the absence of rules but through the mastery of them. It’s like a skilled musician who can play freely because they understand the structure of music. In the same way, living within God’s design brings real freedom. It’s not chaos or rebellion—it’s life in step with the Spirit, guided by the wisdom and boundaries God gives. Freedom, in this sense, is not about being unrestrained, but about being rightly aligned.

Think of it like riding a bike. It's frustrating and even painful when you don’t know how to ride. But once you’ve learned, the bike becomes a source of joy and freedom. God’s law works the same way. It never changes, and whether it brings blessing or struggle depends on how well we’ve learned to ride in rhythm with it. Yeshua didn’t toss the bike aside—He showed us how to ride it with grace and purpose. He fulfilled the law by living it perfectly and calling us to follow Him.

But without boundaries, what we call “freedom” can quickly turn into slavery. Someone might think they’re free by doing whatever they want, but if that leads to addiction, brokenness, or emptiness -- it becomes a trap. Real freedom involves the wisdom to make choices that keep us free, not just for a moment, but for the long haul. That’s why discipline matters. Walking with Yeshua doesn’t take away our freedom—He restores it. His way protects it, His strength upholds it, and His presence helps it last.

The world tells us that freedom is about being in control of ourselves, answering to no one. But that kind of freedom is actually another form of bondage. The harder we try to be our own masters, the more burdened we become with the pressure to succeed, prove ourselves, and keep everything together. True freedom comes when we stop striving and surrender to Someone greater—Yeshua, who carries the weight we were never meant to bear.

Friend, that’s why Paul says in Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast.” He doesn’t mean to stand on your own strength or independence. He means stay grounded in the freedom Christ gives—the kind of freedom that comes through surrender, not control. In Him, we’re not just freed from something—we’re freed for something. We’re released from the tyranny of self so we can live a life of love, service, and purpose. The law wasn’t given to earn favor, but to show our need for grace. And now, as beloved sons and daughters, we follow not out of duty, but out of love -- because we are free!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, understanding true freedom!

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

We often think of freedom as the ability to do what we want, when we want, without interference. So when Yeshua says things like “Don’t worry about tomorrow,” “Forgive seventy times seven,” or “Turn the other cheek,” they strike us as anything but freeing. They sound like burdens, not blessings -- commands that restrict rather than release.

But that reaction reveals a deeper misunderstanding. The problem isn’t with Yeshua’s (Jesus') words -- it’s with how we define freedom.

In today’s world, people often think being free means being in charge. The world teaches that freedom means doing whatever we want, making our own choices, and not letting anyone or anything stop us. It’s about trying to get rid of anything that might stand in our way so we can take full control of our lives. The more control we think we have, the more we think we're truly free.

But this definition is deceptive. The more we strive to control, the more we fear losing it. We become enslaved to anxiety, anger, and endless striving. True freedom can’t be built on fear. It doesn’t come from ruling over life—it comes from being released from the need to.

Scripture offers a radically different definition. According to the Bible, true freedom isn’t found in self-determination—it’s found in surrender—not surrender to chaos or despair but to a good, sovereign, loving God who alone holds the universe together.

Yeshua didn’t come to make us completely independent -- He came to give us a relationship with Himself. When He says, “Follow me,” He’s not trying to trap us or take away our lives -- He’s actually showing us the way to real freedom. It might not make sense initially because it means letting go of the idea that we’re in control. But when we do, we’re set free from fear, from constantly trying to prove ourselves, and from the heavy pressure of trying to fix everything on our own.

This is what makes Yeshua’s teachings so powerful and different. Forgiveness, trust, generosity, and humility aren’t rules that hold us back—they’re actually the keys that set us free. They open the door to a new way of life because we simply trust the One who’s watching over us.

When we live by the world’s definition of freedom, we carry a burden we were never meant to bear. But when we embrace the biblical view, we find that true freedom is not the power to control life, but the peace to trust the One who already does.

Friend, one of the most amazing truths in God’s Kingdom is this: true freedom comes when we surrender. When you give your life to Him, you’re no longer trapped by the pressure to perform, please everyone, or chase after your own way. Instead, you're set free—free to love without fear, to give generously, to forgive completely, and to live with peace and purpose. Why? Because your life is anchored in Someone far greater than yourself. That’s real freedom—and when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, rest for the weary!

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jeremiah 6:16-17  Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17  I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ 

Life wears us down. We live in a world of relentless motion, pressure, and performance. Yeshua (Jesus) doesn’t deny this. Instead, He speaks directly to those who are “weary and heavy-laden.” The Greek for “weary” (kopiao) means utterly worn out—soul-tired, not just physically fatigued. The burdens He mentions aren’t only external tasks but inward baggage: guilt, shame, expectations, and hidden wounds. Yeshua’s call isn’t merely an invitation to stop—it’s a call to come. He offers what no one else can: rest that restores.

But here’s the surprise—He offers rest through a yoke. That seems backwards. A yoke is for work. Yet this is the wisdom of the kingdom. Yeshua doesn't promise escape; He offers partnership. His yoke—zugos in Greek—isn't just a symbol of restraint or control. It represents His way of life, His teachings, and how He walked in obedience to the Father. And when we are yoked to Him, we’re no longer pulling alone. The burden doesn’t disappear—but it is redefined, shared, and lightened. His commands are not oppressive; they align us with God’s design, bringing peace through purpose.

“Learn from Me,” Yeshua says. Not learn just about Me. Not just admire Me. The Greek verb manthano implies observation that leads to transformation—watching the Master in action and imitating His ways. And what are those ways? Love, compassion, gentleness, and humility aren’t signs of weakness or passivity—they’re powerful, intentional choices. They reflect inner strength and a deep trust in God’s plan. Yeshua, though He is the King over all, chose to lower Himself and serve. He didn’t demand honor—He gave it. In doing so, He revealed the true path to peace and rest: not through striving, but through surrender and selfless love.

To take His yoke is to say YES to being shaped. It’s to accept a life of obedience that flows from love. In the Hebraic context, this yoke isn’t legalistic. It’s a joyful return to God’s ancient paths, the ways Jeremiah urged Israel to rediscover. (Jeremiah 6:16-17)  Yeshua claims the authority to define that path. He is not just the teacher; He is Wisdom itself (Colossians 2:2-3). In Him, the old paths become living roads that lead to freedom.

Here’s the wonder: when we walk in His ways—when we align with His teaching and pace—rest finds us. Not because we chased it down but because we surrendered to the One who gave it. This rest (anapausis) is not the absence of effort but the presence of inner calm while we labor. It’s working in harmony with our purpose. It’s the second wind of grace.

Friend, maybe you’ve tried everything else. Maybe you’ve carried the weight alone for too long. He’s still saying, “Come to Me.” Not just once, but daily. Take His yoke. Learn His ways. And you will find what your soul has longed for—not just relief, but real rest -- a true SHABBAT!

Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend in the Lord ... see you on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: We’re heading back to Israel leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More...

Editor's Note: We recently discovered that our donations page was down for a few days due to an unexpected glitch during an automatic update—something that occurred without our knowledge. We're happy to report that the issue has been resolved and the page is now fully functional again. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your continued support and patience. As always, your generosity helps us move the mission forward.

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, compassion — the womb of God's Heart!

Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.

Exodus 33:19  And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 

Isaiah 54:7-8 For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. 8  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. 

The mercy of God is not a distant concept—it’s His very nature. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals Himself as righteous, just, and profoundly compassionate. His mercy is not a reaction; it’s a reflection of His divine character.

When Moses asked to see God's glory, what was revealed? Goodness, grace, and mercy—not thunderbolts or judgment, but compassion flowing from the very heart of the Almighty.

The Hebrew word for compassion, rakhamim (רַחֲמִים), comes from the root rechem (רֶחֶם), meaning womb. This is no coincidence. Just as the womb protects, nurtures, and gives life, so God’s compassion embraces us in our weakness, shelters us in our wandering, and breathes hope into our despair.

Even in seasons of correction, God’s heart never grows cold. His discipline may be real, but it is always measured and momentary. What feels like abandonment is often just a pause in His visible presence—not in His love.

As Isaiah reminds us: “For a mere moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In a little wrath I hid My face, but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:7–8)

His mercy endures far beyond His anger, and His kindness knows no end. Though He may allow distance for a season, His compassion never stops pursuing us—it always makes a way back to His embrace. Where sin has scattered, His mercy gathers. Where wrath is momentary, His love is everlasting. Even when we forget Him, He remembers us—faithfully, tenderly, completely.

The greatest revelation of God's compassion came through Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah. He was compassion in flesh, reaching, touching, healing, restoring. He touched the leper, sat with the sinner, wept with the grieving, and restored the broken. He even healed on Shabbat, declaring by His actions that human need outweighed religious customs.

Yeshua never asked, “Are you worthy?” Instead, He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32)

This is divine compassion: it was not merit-based, but need-driven. Yeshua didn't just feel sympathy—He acted, often with a touch, always with love.

If we are made in the image of God, then compassion must flow from us, too. We are not called to passive emotion but to active mercy; we are called to do the same to dispense true justice and practice lovingkindness and compassion. (Zechariah 7:9)

True compassion steps in, speaks up, and stretches out its hands. It's not afraid to get messy. It's not reserved for the "deserving." It reflects God's heart to a world that's forgotten what love looks like.

Friend, so let the womb of God’s heart—His deep, life-giving compassion—be formed in you. Just as a mother carries and nurtures life within her, allow God's Spirit to cultivate in you a heart that is ready to hold the hurting, heal the broken, and help the weary. Compassion isn’t complete until it moves beyond emotion and becomes action. Don’t settle for merely feeling sorry—become a vessel of mercy. Step in. Speak up. Reach out. Let your life be a living expression of God’s compassion to a world desperate for His touch.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, "anything" — but not everything!

Philippians 4:19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

James 4:3  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 

When we read the promises of God, we must read them the way we ourselves want to be heard—in full context. Just as we expect others to understand our words in light of what we’ve said before, God expects us to interpret His promises in light of all He has revealed in His Word.

It’s tempting to isolate a promise like “ask anything in My name” and stretch it to cover every personal desire. But “anything” doesn’t mean “everything.” And “whosoever” doesn’t mean “whoever ignores God’s will.” God’s promises are not blank checks for the self-centered or the disobedient. He hasn’t promised to fulfill our every whim—He has promised to equip us for His will.

Imagine being asked to build a fence, and the one who sent you says, “If you need anything, call me.” That “anything” clearly applies to fence-building, not requesting a sports car! Likewise, when God says, “Ask anything,” He means anything related to what He has asked you to do. He has not promised to indulge our whims but to equip us for His work.

This is why many prayers seem to go unanswered—not because God is unfaithful, but because we’ve misunderstood how they relate to His assignment for our lives. False assumptions produce false expectations, and false expectations delay the heart’s joy (“Hope deferred makes the heart sick” -- Proverbs 13:12). But when our desires align with His purpose, prayers are answered, lives are transformed, and Christ is being formed within us. (Galatians 4:19)

Friend, God never promised to fulfill all our wants, but He has assured us that He will meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19). His provision is always connected to His purpose. He is faithful in equipping you for His calling, not to make life more comfortable but to make you more useful for His Kingdom.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, pray into His prophetic plans!

Ezekiel 36:37  “Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock.

Daniel 9:2-3  in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.  3  Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

A few days ago, I shared a quote from B.J. Willhite, and today I want to delve deeper into his powerful insight. He wrote, "The law of prayer is the highest law of the universe—it can overcome the other laws by sanctioning God’s intervention. When implemented properly, the law of prayer permits God to exercise His sovereignty in a world under the dominion of a rebel with free will, in a universe governed by natural law."

Prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse of God’s promises. Ezekiel 36 reveals a profound truth: God had declared that Israel would be restored as a nation, yet He said, “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them” (v. 37). Even after declaring His sovereign will, God still expected prayer to bring it to pass.

This principle is vividly illustrated in Daniel 9. Daniel recognized through Jeremiah’s prophecy that the appointed time for Israel’s deliverance had arrived. Instead of merely declaring the promise, he humbled himself with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, pouring out a prayer of repentance.  Daniel stepped into God’s prophetic plan through prayer!

Why does God require prayer? Because in a world where human free will reigns and natural law governs, prayer gives God the legal right to intervene. It is the divine principle that allows heaven’s will to be executed on earth.

Yeshua (Jesus) taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Prayer's purpose is to align earth with heaven and open the door for God’s intervention.

Friend, God has positioned us for this moment — “for such a time as this” — to usher in His Kingdom. If we truly grasp our roles as Kings and Priests of the Most High, we will walk in His prophetic plan, expecting Him to move supernaturally. Invite Him to move into your life, family, and every situation you face. By doing so, you are granting God the authority to intervene powerfully in every area of your life.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, seeking victory by the power of His Spirit!

Judges 14:5-6 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring.  6  Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

Judges 16:20 And she (Delilah)said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. 

Samson’s life is a powerful illustration of what can be accomplished through the anointing of God and the devastating consequences of losing it. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, Samson was unstoppable, tearing apart a lion with his bare hands. But when he surrendered to the seductions of Delilah, he lost the very power that made him invincible. The tragedy? He didn’t even realize the Lord had left him.

This is a sobering reminder that the enemy is cunning and relentless in his attempts to quench the Holy Spirit in our lives. Temptations, distractions, and worldly enticements can subtly drain our spiritual strength until we wake up one day, as Samson did, powerless and unaware.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is our source of life, victory, and power. When His presence rests upon us, burdens are lifted, and the enemy is defeated. But maintaining that anointing requires vigilance. Bad habits, sinful desires, and spiritual complacency can rob us of that holy communion with God.

Samson’s victories demonstrate the overwhelming power of the anointing. Yet his downfall warns us of the cost of neglecting it. Let us guard the “oil” of Yeshua’s anointing, keeping our lamps burning with His Spirit. His light will drive out darkness, His joy will dispel despair, and His truth will expose every lie.

Friend, Stay filled with the Spirit. Seek His presence daily. And don’t find yourself, like Samson, in the arms of temptation, unaware that the anointing has departed. Protect the presence of God in your life—it is your only true source of power and victory. Amen.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, go forth: God doesn't move in comfort zones!

Genesis 12:1 "Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth [lech lecha] from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.’"

When God spoke to Abram, the command was clear yet profoundly personal. The Hebrew phrase lech lecha carries a dual meaning: "go forth" and "go for yourself." This journey wasn’t just a physical relocation; it was a spiritual pilgrimage—a call to walk out God’s will and to walk into his divine inheritance. Abram’s journey was not merely about distance but about destiny.

God called Abram to journey through the land destined to be his and his descendants' everlasting inheritance.

Centuries later, Yeshua (Jesus), the second Adam, stepped down from His heavenly throne to walk the same ground. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the land of promise, coming to restore the relationship broken by Adam’s sin and to reclaim what was lost.

But before Abram could receive the fullness of God’s promise, he had to surrender what he considered his most precious blessings—his homeland, his father's house, and his comfort zone. God was not only calling Abram to go forth but also to let go.

Friend, God doesn’t work in comfort zones. Yeshua’s call still resounds: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) True faith requires surrender.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend! See you on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Every day, I can’t help but laugh at how many headlines are more absurd than serious. Instead of just joking about them with my family, I decided to take it a step further and give them a satirical spin—stories that wouldn’t make it on Worthy News but were just too tempting not to poke fun at. That’s how Worthy Satire was born. It’s a lighthearted experiment to test my comedic skills while hopefully pointing a few people toward the ministry and Yeshua (Jesus). Check it out, and I’ve now added the source so you can see where the spin began!

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, be a divine reflection!

1 Corinthians 15:45-49  Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47  The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

On the sixth day, as the universe stood complete, God paused. One final creation remained—a masterpiece unlike any other. This being would bear His own image, a living reflection of the Divine (Genesis 1:26-27).

The Hebrew word for “image,” tzelem, is profoundly connected to tzel, meaning “shadow.” God fashioned Adam to be His shadow on earth—a living, breathing reflection of His glory and nature. From the first Adam to you and me, we are not just flesh and blood; we are living reflections of the Almighty, cast upon this earth to reveal the unseen God.

God reached down, gathered adama (earth), and molded it into a vessel. Then, He breathed His Spirit into that lifeless clay, and Adam became a living soul—a blend of dust and blood, adama and dam. And in this divine act, a profound truth was revealed: when the blood (dam) ceases to flow, life departs, and we return to the dust (adama) from which we were formed.

Centuries later, the Second Adam, Yeshua, entered the world—the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15-17). Just as the first Adam was formed from earth and infused with divine breath, Yeshua was born of human blood yet carried the very breath of God Himself. And just as Adam was called to reflect the Creator, we are called to reflect the Messiah—to walk as His shadow, bearing the imprint of His life, love, and light.

Friend, never forget: You are His divine shadow—a living, breathing reflection of the Almighty. Let His light blaze through you, that those around you may behold the One who shaped you from dust and ignited your soul with His very breath.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Every day, I can’t help but laugh at how many headlines are more absurd than serious. Instead of just joking about them with my family, I decided to take it a step further and give them a satirical spin—stories that wouldn’t make it on Worthy News but were just too tempting not to poke fun at. That’s how Worthy Satire was born. It’s a lighthearted experiment to test my comedic skills while hopefully pointing a few people toward the ministry and Yeshua (Jesus). Take a look and let me know what you think!

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, a covenant of fire, mercy, and promise!

Genesis 15:6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:17-18  When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.  18 On that day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 

In the stillness of a desert night, surrounded by cut offerings and the lingering scent of sacrifice, Abram beheld something utterly sacred -- God Himself, in the form of a smoking oven and a burning torch, passing between the pieces of a covenant. It was not Abram who walked through the blood-soaked path. It was God alone. And that changes everything.

This act is one of Scripture's clearest pictures of divine grace. Covenants in the ancient world required both parties to walk through the cut pieces, symbolizing mutual responsibility. But here, only God passes through, taking full responsibility for fulfilling His promise. He binds Himself unilaterally to Abram and his descendants—Israel. The land promise, the coming redemption, and the future inheritance were not based on man’s faithfulness but on God’s unbreakable word.

Yet the scene also shows a battle in the waiting. Before the presence of God appears, vultures descend—unclean birds seeking to steal the sacrifice (Genesis 15:11). Abram drives them away, foreshadowing every believer’s struggle. We offer God our worship, our lives, our praise—but the enemy comes, trying to rob us of our faith and steal our promises. Like Abram, we must rise up, stand guard, and fight to protect what God has spoken. Let us not passively watch while doubt, distraction, or discouragement pick apart our altars.

The symbols that appeared—smoke and fire—are rich with meaning. The smoking oven speaks of judgment, refining, and awe; the burning torch speaks of mercy, light, and hope. Together, they reveal the character of the God of Israel: just and holy, yet merciful and near. In Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), we see both realities embodied. He is Zion’s salvation that burns like a torch (Isaiah 62:1), and He is also the one cut off for the sins of His people (Isaiah 53:8). He walked between the pieces, taking on the burden of blood so that we could walk in the freedom of grace.

Yet, this covenant speaks beyond the personal—it is national. God's promises to Abram include a literal land for his descendants, and Scripture affirms that this land promise is everlasting (Psalm 105:8-11). The modern restoration of Israel in 1948 was not the result of mere human determination—it was the unfolding of God’s unbreakable covenant. Even after dispersion and judgment, He has remained faithful.

Ezekiel 36 gives voice to His divine intention:

“... It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name ... And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen... and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD... when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you... A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you...” (Ezekiel 36:22–26)

From the beginning, God’s plan has echoed with both physical return and spiritual awakening, calling His people back to their land and stirring their hearts to return to Him. His promise was never just to bring them home, but to cleanse them from defilement, ignite them with new life, and fill them with His Spirit through their Messiah. The exile is ending. The restoration has begun.

This is the same God who calls to us today. He still walks between the pieces. He still sanctifies His name through mercy and judgment. And He still offers to remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh. In Yeshua, we become part of this redemptive story—grafted in, renewed, and rooted in eternal promise. (Romans 11:11-32)

Friend, so rise up, and stand your ground. Bring your offering of praise with boldness. Guard the altar of your heart—drive away every vulture that dares to steal what God has spoken. Trust the One who walked the blood-stained path alone. His fire has not gone out. His torch still blazes in the darkness. And His covenant promises remain unshakable, eternal, and true.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, the eighth Day — a new beginning in Messiah!

Revelation 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.

John 7:37-38  On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 

Throughout Scripture, the number eight carries profound prophetic significance. It speaks of new beginnings, fresh starts, and divine separation from what was, to embrace what is to come.

Think of Noah, stepping out of the ark with seven others—eight souls total—to restart humanity after the flood. Or Isaac, the first recorded in the Bible to be circumcised on the eighth day, a covenantal sign that marked a new identity and set-apart life before God. And then, Yeshua (Jesus), our Messiah, who was also circumcised on the eighth day, entered into His earthly mission as a Jewish boy set apart from birth.

But the most powerful "eighth day" of all was the day of resurrection. After Shabbat (Sabbath) -- following havdalah (Hebrew for separation - a weekly ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and the ushering of a new week) -- Yeshua rose from the grave. In that moment, which coincided with the Feast of Bikoreem (First Fruits), He conquered death and ushered in a new covenant and a new way of life for all who follow Him. Just as havdalah marks the transition from Sabbath to a new week, Messiah’s resurrection marked the separation from the old and the beginning of a new and living way (Hebrews 10:19-24).

The Apostle Paul often wrote of this separation—the old covenant giving way to the new, the law of death replaced by the law of life in Messiah. (2 Corinthians 3:5-18)

This is why the early Church began celebrating the "Lord's Day" on the first day of the week -- not simply as a memorial of Yeshua’s resurrection, but as a weekly reminder of the eighth day. It was a day that pointed beyond time itself, toward eternity -- a "time outside of time" -- when all things would be made new and God would dwell forever with His people. (Revelation 21:1-6) Every Lord’s Day became a prophetic rehearsal for the age to come, when death would be no more and the fullness of redemption would be complete.

Remarkably, 2,000 years ago, on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles -- on Simchat Torah, Yeshua stood in the Temple and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-38). On that sacred day, traditionally linked with rejoicing in the Torah, He pointed to Himself as the source of living water. It was a prophetic marker of a new beginning -- in connection with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Even today, the echoes of that moment continue. When war broke out in Israel in October 2023, it was on Simchat Torah; it was more than just a tragic coincidence. It served as a solemn reminder that God often initiates new seasons in moments of shaking. The same day that once symbolized joy and the giving of the Word now marks a renewed call to return to the Source -- to Yeshua, the Living Water.

Friend, today, if you feel stuck in the past, remember this: the eighth day is coming. In God’s Kingdom, every ending is the doorway to a new beginning. In Yeshua, the end is never the end—it’s a call to rise. His resurrection was not merely a moment in history, but an open invitation to live a resurrected life and walk in the unshakable hope of eternity. Yeshua didn’t rise just to display power -- He rose to give it, lifting us from what was and leading us into all that is yet to come.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, the power of hope in deep waters!

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

In the 1950s, a Harvard psychologist named Dr. Curt Richter conducted a now-famous experiment involving rats and buckets of water. At first glance, it was a grim study, but a profound truth about the human spirit was buried within it.

In his initial test, Richter placed rats in water to see how long they could swim before giving up. On average, they lasted just 15 minutes before succumbing to exhaustion. But then something remarkable happened, he added the possibility of hope to see the results.

Just before the rats were about to drown, Richter would reach in, pull them out, dry them off, let them rest, and then return them to the water.

And this time?

They didn’t just swim another 15 minutes.

They lasted hours with one rat that continued to swim for an astonishing 60 hours.

What changed? Richter concluded “the rats quickly learn that the situation is not actually hopeless” and that “after elimination of hopelessness the rats do not die.”

Because they had been rescued once, the rats now believed they might be rescued again—and that hope gave them the strength to endure far beyond what they were capable of before.

Let that settle in your heart for a moment: hope kept them swimming.

If hope can keep a tired rat going for 60 hours, imagine what hope in God can do in your life.

Difficult seasons are inevitable. But the crushing weight of hopelessness is far more dangerous than hardship itself. Hope doesn’t deny the difficulty -- it gives us strength in the middle of it. It lifts our eyes off the storm and fixes them on the Savior. And sometimes, that small flicker of hope is all we need to keep swimming.

That’s why Scripture reminds us that the God of hope is able to fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him—so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overflow with hope even in the hardest moments.

Friend, perhaps you feel like you’re treading water, moments from going under. Maybe someone close to you is silently struggling to stay afloat.  Never underestimate the power of hope, especially the kind rooted in Yeshua (Jesus). It can carry you further than you ever imagined.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, character counts!

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers to ever compete, uniquely known for winning the "Grand Slam" of golf winning all four major tournaments in the U.S. and Britain in a single year. In 1925, early in his career, having reached the final playoff in the U.S. Open, at a certain point in the match, Jones was setting up to strike his ball which was in the rough just off the fairway. His iron accidentally touched the ball. He immediately became angry with himself, turned to the marshals, and called a penalty on himself.

But the marshals had not seen the ball move, so they left the decision to Jones, whether to invoke the penalty -- a two-stroke penalty. Bobby called the penalty on himself, not knowing that he would lose the tournament by a single stroke.

When praised for his honesty, he replied, "You may as well praise a man for not robbing a bank!" Jones may have lost the tournament, but his character was legendary and today the United States Golf Association's award for sportsmanship is known as the "Bobby Jones Award."

It's been said, "Character is what you do when nobody is watching. Character is how you treat people who can do absolutely nothing for you. Character is how you react when the pressure is on. Character is deciding beforehand that you are going to do the right thing."

Friend, every day we're faced with decisions -- many of which are made when no one is watching, at least no one we can see. But let's purpose in our hearts to do the right thing -- because character truly counts. We may not see the dividends immediately -- but be assured that God is keeping track of our decisions, and He will make good on every one!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, invite God to work in your life!

James 5:16  Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous one avails much. 

As America prepares to observe the National Day of Prayer on May 1, I wanted to share some powerful insights I discovered while reading "Why Pray?" by B.J. Willhite.

Willhite wrote, "The law of prayer is the highest law of the universe—it can overcome the other laws by sanctioning God’s intervention. When implemented properly, the law of prayer permits God to exercise His sovereignty in a world under the dominion of a rebel with free will, in a universe governed by natural law.

There are those among the rebels who have chosen of their own free will to obey God. They want His will to be done more than their own. So they pray, 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as in heaven.'

As they pray that prayer, they set up the conditions under which God can legally impose His will in a given situation."

Prayer is more than a request—it’s an invitation. God, who respects the freedom He gave us, does not force His will upon us. But through prayer, we open the door for Him to move fully and freely in our lives.

When we pray, we are not changing God; however, we are positioning ourselves to receive what He already wants to give. Heaven’s purposes are waiting for earthly permission. Prayer is that permission.

Friend, when you feel overwhelmed by impossible situations, remember -- prayer isn’t your last resort; it’s the highest authority you’ve been entrusted with. It’s heaven’s legal access point to your situation. No matter how difficult things seem, God is greater -- and He’s just waiting for your invitation to intervene!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, thank God for independence!

Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Tonight Israel will celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut -- Independence Day -- and what a party! -- shows, fireworks, music, dancing, everything under the sun!

But interestingly, today is a very solemn one; Israel's Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron), commemorating all the soldiers who died protecting the nation's birth and continued existence. All the major television stations stopped airing their programs for twenty-four hours in honor of these men and women. At different times during the day, long loud sirens wailed all throughout the Land. Wherever anyone was as the sirens sounded, the entire population stopped whatever they were doing — even standing still on the highways, to give honor to the fallen soldiers. The dedication and camaraderie among Israelis are just amazing to witness and take part in. I have traveled to many places and I've never seen anything like it.

This juxtaposition of two of Israel's national holidays speaks powerfully of the gospel. Messiah's death purchased our freedom from sin and eternal damnation. We've often heard and been reminded of the cost paid for our independence by soldiers who gave their lives defending our nation. It is a beautiful and precious thing to remember when you think of the value of human life and the blessing of individual freedom. Yet our Lord willingly laid down His life for our eternal freedom and joy in a New Creation.

Friend, how much more should we give honor to His sacrificial death and then...celebrate the astounding destiny He has bestowed on us!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, obtain the fullness of joy!

John 16:23-24 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

As we ask in His name, and we see our prayers being answered, we realize how real and faithful our God is. But I want to focus on the life that is overflowing with JOY!

Have you ever met someone who just seemed radiant with joy? Joyful people always seem to be overflowing with life. No matter the obstacles the enemy throws their way, they always seem to live in victory. You’ll also find that they are spending time in the prayer closet...because the outflow of prayer is JOY!

When we commune with God at that intimate level, dwelling in His presence, as the Psalmist says, “In your presence is fullness of joy!" [Psalm 16:11]

Friend, prayer is intimately connected to the joy in your life. If you’re struggling with anxiety about the future, or the present, or a deep concern that is robbing your joy … it's time to enter your prayer closet, set the time apart, and determine to enter His presence. The Lord's joy will strengthen you from that place. Try it and see.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Knoxville, Tennessee | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Friend, softer is better!

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but harsh words stir up anger.

People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.

How often, in all the issues we have to deal with talking with people, we know or we feel we are right; our idea, our position, our interpretation is it, and we're ready to fight for it. Forget the fact that we may not be, or that there might be something we're completely ignorant of. The truth is that sometimes we know better, and sometimes we don't.

But the scripture teaches us, and I've learned from experience (most of the time), that arguing, forcefulness, and violence in my own voice are almost guaranteed to start a futile and ugly war of words. People are naturally defensive, and often, naturally offensive. But I can be the one to break the pattern...with a gentle answer.

Friend, if my heart attitude is “Come, let us reason together, hear each other out, respect each other, speak softly, and trust the Lord for the outcome", and my tone of voice carries that spirit, I can actually help the other person to calm down and prevent a war. The fruit of the spirit is..... self-control. What a blessing! Do you want to start a fight.....or finish one? Give a gentle answer today and see what the Lord does!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Houston, Texas | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!