Worthy News
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday called for the immediate start of a process leading to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, saying Berlin continues to oppose unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood–at least for now. His remarks come amid mounting international pressure on Israel following a wave of European declarations backing statehood for Palestine.
President Donald Trump warned Thursday that reaching a new trade agreement with Canada may now be unlikely after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his government’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state. The move, unveiled ahead of September’s United Nations General Assembly, immediately escalated tensions between the longtime allies, injecting geopolitics into sensitive economic negotiations.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will delay a planned increase in tariffs on Mexican imports by 90 days following what he called a “very successful” call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The move postpones a threatened hike in the blanket tariff rate from 25% to 30%, giving both nations additional time to strike a more permanent trade agreement.
The Trump administration announced Thursday it will impose sanctions on multiple officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) over what it described as continued support for terrorism and efforts to undermine Israel through international legal channels.
Just days before the Jewish people mark the solemn day of Tisha B’Av–the Ninth of Av–a rare bronze coin dating to the final year before the destruction of the Second Temple has been discovered near the Temple Mount. The coin, bearing the stirring inscription “For the Redemption of Zion,” was minted in Jerusalem during the fourth year of the Great Revolt against Rome (69-70 C.E.). Archaeologists view the find as a powerful echo of Jewish longing for deliverance in the face of overwhelming despair.
The Trump administration is reportedly ramping up pressure on the Lebanese government to commit to Hezbollah’s disarmament, making it a central requirement for resuming ceasefire talks to halt Israeli military action in Lebanon.
In a development that could reshape the historical understanding of the Trump-Russia investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday released the long-classified appendix to Special Counsel John Durham’s 2023 report. Known as the “Durham annex,” the newly public document reveals extensive intelligence pointing to a Clinton campaign-backed scheme to falsely link Donald Trump to Russia, and a disturbing pattern of inaction and political bias within the FBI and intelligence community under the Obama administration.
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected two resolutions Wednesday that sought to block arms sales to Israel, as lawmakers debated America’s ongoing support for its closest ally in the Middle East amid growing concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza.
A horrific massacre unfolded Sunday in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Islamic State-affiliated jihadists beheaded at least 49 Christians–nine of them children–during a church service in the village of Komanda. The attackers, members of the notorious Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), stormed a church where believers had gathered from surrounding villages to celebrate a Silver Jubilee and to pray for peace amid ongoing violence.
President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new trade agreement with South Korea on Wednesday, just ahead of an August 1 deadline he had previously set for sharply increased tariffs if no progress was made in rebalancing trade relations.
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The word for “restitution” in this passage is the Greek word – “apokatastasis”. This is the one and only place it is found in the New Testament. The word literally means to “restore again” or “to repair”. The plan of God in sending His Son Yeshua (Jesus) was to restore that which had been broken and ruined. The Lord’s saving work is a global repair job. Each one of us has come to Him already ruined by sin. But God’s will and His promise is to restore and renew us through His Son.
These past few days, writing about the will of God, has reminded me of the prophet Jeremiah, and how the Lord knew him – even before he was in his mother’s womb, and he was sanctified by God as a prophet to the nations. A similar foreknowledge and ordination of God belongs to us who are under the New Covenant. God’s foreknowledge of His people is clearly stated in scripture. We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, and created in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) unto good works which He foreordained that we walk in them.
Writing daily devotions throughout the years I’ve often been asked the question, “How do I find the will of God?” There are probably many good scriptural approaches to answering this question; but I want to offer something very basic as you think about understanding the will of God. That is, simply, that you’ll know His will when you come to know the heart of God.
For the past few days we’ve been delving into the multiple meanings of “Amen”. While “Amen” is most commonly found at the end of prayers, the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) often used it at the beginning of a statement: “Truly, truly, I say unto you …” more accurately translated, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you…”
Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked. Sometimes we get so focused on the “big sins” such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin — but the Lord doesn’t give this sin a free pass — quite the opposite. It’s a hidden killer! This sin unleashed a plague that killed thousands of Israelites! [Numbers 16]
The city of Laodicea was founded nearly three centuries before the birth of Christ. Built on a trade route, Laodicea was quite prosperous. The wealth of the city was legendary, as Jews who lived there sent 9 kilograms (20 lbs) of gold to the Temple in Jerusalem on a yearly basis according to historical records.
Laodicea was an idyllic city except for its lack of a water supply. It depended on water from an external source, the city of Hierapolis was located six miles to the north, the site of mineral hot springs which were used for medicinal purposes. These steaming hot waters were piped to Laodicea, arriving there… lukewarm, hence the metaphor in Yeshua’s warning to the Laodicean church.
The church at Laodicea received a stern warning in chapter 3 of John’s Revelation. We would do well to reflect on it.
The word “Laodicea” is a compound in the Greek; “Laos” which principally means “people”, and “dike”, defined as “principle or decision”. One rendering might read, “rule of the people”, or, in modern terms, “Democracy”. In the western world, we have an affection and even a deep commitment to Democracy. Yet this form of government, “rule of the people” is fatally flawed… because we are fatally flawed by our sin nature…
As we continue to probe the lessons from the salt covenant, we now inquire into our part in the covenant.
Yeshua (Jesus) said He is the “bread of life”. It was His body that was broken on our behalf as the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. Notice that He never once called us to be the “bread of life”! He is the ONLY “Bread of Life” – the true bread who came down from Heaven which anyone may eat and not die. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is His flesh, given for the life of the world.
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