Want to get people’s attention? Do you enjoy initiating conversation…or stopping it cold at the outset? Do you get a kick out of observing facial expressions following a specific comment you’ve voiced? During “table time” (aka “dining room evangelism”) at one of the centers where we teach, as I sat with residents who are not yet believers in Jesus, I mentioned rather matter-of-factly, “Today at the Bible study we’re going to talk about how we can ENJOY God.” The response: no words; raised eyebrows; glancing down at their plates. Many Jewish people do not realize that God is a personal God…that He created us for relationship with Himself! Peggy came along and joined the table gathering. I had already changed the subject. My new friend and resident at the community is a retired University Professor. And, she’s a believer in Jesus. I so appreciate Peggy. We entered into a discussion around the table concerning Jesus’ teachings which moved into the history of the Second Temple. Our Jewish friends were intrigued. One woman continues to tell me, “You’re Jewish.” And, that day several crossed the threshold into the Library for the Bible study…participating in an exchange concerning how we can ENJOY God!
My sweet Jewish friend, Martha, in answer to “how can we ENJOY God?” responded with, “I so love life and God gave us life. I so love God.” Martha and I got into an exchange concerning salvation during the Bible study that day. I asked her to define salvation. She did…”good works which we’ll never accomplish on this earth.” I asked Martha and the class, “So, what’s the purpose? And, how ‘good’ is good enough? God’s standard is perfection. We are not perfect. We will never meet His standard.” Martha agreed. And, again, I shared what the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, came to accomplish for us so that we, who receive His gift of forgiveness for our sin, can be forever with Him after we die. My heart aches for them!
Laura sat next to me at class. She was fixated throughout. Following the study I asked Laura her thoughts. She said, “I have a lot to think about!” In my conveying more about Jesus, she questioned how Jesus can be God as there is only one God. After I agreed with her that there is only one God, I explained that the Hebrew word for God in Gen. 1:1, “Elohim,” has a plural ending. After I told her that the Hebrew word for “one” in Deut. 6:4 – “echad” - means a composite unity…after she read Gen. 1:26 (“Let US….”)…after I offered the understanding of relationship within the Godhead which speaks to the love of God…I then said, “You’re one person and you’re a mother, a wife, and a daughter.” Her response: “I like that. Thank you for sharing that with me!” When I probed further about her coming to faith, she said, “It’s difficult.” We continued to converse. In God’s time….
I do believe another Jewish friend of mine is truly enjoying standing at the train station getting ready to board the train. What does that mean? Getting on the train, in her mind is placing her faith in Jesus. This is based on a sermon she heard at our church. Carrie is immensely enjoying “standing at the train station” - pondering Jesus, speaking with me about all the sermons she’s heard since the end of December 2018, and realizing that having a relationship with Jesus is what we must first seek! I’ve asked her what’s standing in the way of her boarding the train. She told me. May God give my dear friend the desire to begin her eternal destination by boarding the train. May God stir her heart to long for the enjoyment of knowing Him through His Son – the Jewish Messiah!
All aboard!
Cathy Wilson
cathylouwilson@live.com
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