Romans 15

“Now I say that (Messiah) Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘For this reason I will confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.’ And again he says: ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!’  And again: ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!  Laud Him all you peoples!’ And again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.’”  Romans 15:8-12 (NKJV)

God’s heart has always been for Jews and Gentiles to know and worship Him in unity.  Even in the days of His covenant with Abraham, the Lord’s articulated desire was for the whole world to enter into a saving relationship with Him.

“I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Genesis 12:3 (HCSB)

Again, through the Prophet Isaiah, God communicated His heart for the nations.

“No foreigner who has joined himself (converted) to the Lord should say, ‘The Lord has excluded me from His people.”  Isaiah 56:3a (HCSB)

I recall being on a tour with Jewish Believers, leaving Israel, and traveling to the predominantly Muslim country of Jordan.  I always leave Israel with sadness for the millions of Jews who are yet to acknowledge Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.  This time was no different.  None of our Israeli tour guides were Believers, and although we shared a common Jewish understanding, there was a massive spiritual disconnect because of our views on Messiah.

I had never been to a Muslim country, so I expected even more of a spiritual disconnect from my Jordanian guides.  Ironically, they were all Jordanian Believers!!  From the moment our guide began leading us, I felt at home.  Was it his attitude, comments, or demeanor?  Frankly, I believe it was the presence of the Holy Spirit.  We connected as followers of Messiah, even though our bus now consisted of Jews and Arabs, in a way that we could not connect with the group of non-believing Jews.

As the Joel Chernoff song goes, the guides and groups were indeed “Jew and Gentile, one in the Spirit, one in Yeshua’s love.”  In our pursuit of the Lord, let us never forget Jesus’ prayer that all believers would be ONE, as He and the Father are One…and that we continue to share the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, not esteeming one people group over another.  Jesus is the salvation of the world!  (John 3:16)