Psalm 83--The Gideon Connection

Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

Psalm 83:11-15

Who in the world are Oreb and Zeeb?  Have you ever heard of Zebah and Zalmunna?  The worship leader/prophet, Asaph, mentions these kings being defeated by God’s chosen in his work, Psalm 83—a very prophetic passage.  In this worship song prophecy Israel’s immediate neighbors attack with the sole purpose of annihilating them, “that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance (Psalm 83:4b).”  There are those who see this battle, which is also found in many other scriptural passages such as Obadiah, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel to name a few, as possibly one of the next events on the prophetic horizon.  It is certain that Israel’s neighbors have the same intentions that these historic Midianite kings had, “Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession (Psalm 83:12).”

These four kings are all associated with the victories brought about by Gideon the Judge.  Ironically, there are many parallels to modern Israel, the story of Gideon, and the defeated kings.  First, these kings, immediate neighbors to the east of Israel, rode under a crescent symbol.  Notice this passage from Judges 8:21, “Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.”  The word translated “ornaments” is very interesting.  In Isaiah 3:18 it is translated as, “…their round tires like the moon.”  The word, saharon, means an ornament with a crescent shape.  One might wonder what the armies of Israel’s current neighbors may use on their battle flags?

Second, the use of Gideon’s enemies is noteworthy because of the name by which God revealed Himself to Gideon as He called him to battle.  What is the central issue today with Israel and its neighbors?  Peace.  Of course, Israel’s neighbors in the days of Judges wanted plunder and not peace.  They wanted, “the houses of God in possession (Psalm 83:12).” If their demands were not met then war was inevitable.  Gideon wanted peace too when God called him.  We find him in a winepress trying to thresh a meager portion of wheat while maintaining the status quo.  After a pack of excuses by Gideon who is called a mighty man of valor while hiding from his enemy, he built an altar and worship God by the name YHVH Shalom, the LORD our Peace!  Did you catch it?  God is calling Gideon to battle against his neighbors who are stealing covenant land and harassing the population while calling Himself, the LORD our Peace.  It is certain the land for peace will utterly fail.  Israel’s current enemies don’t want peace—they want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  Man wants land for peace, but the LORD alone is Israel’s peace!  HE will direct the upcoming battle and its certain outcome which will cause Israel to triple in size!

Next, Gideon is a turning point in the book of Judges (see Gideon--Israel's Turning Point linked below).  All judges before him are good judges while those after him are compromised in their walk with God and conflicted with their values and beliefs.  For more on this see the old series about the structure of the Book of Judges (links below).   Maybe God is going to reverse this pattern.  Maybe the Psalm 83 War will be a turning point in Israel’s history.  It may be the impetus of a great future revival of Judaism.  In essence, the pattern of apostasy is being turned in the end of days rather than apostasy turning Israel around in their beginning of days.  Also, a greater judge than Gideon may be on the way.  Maybe God will send another Othniel—Israel’s first Judge from the tribe of Judah?  Othiniel’s name is peculiar.  It means the Lion of GOD.  It is certain that the Psalm 83 War will be a sign that Israel’s greatest Judge is on the way.  Is He not called THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH—Jesus Christ the Righteous?  There is no salvation outside of Him!!!

Finally, of all of the victories the Holy Spirit inspired prophet could have used, he chose one during a time when Israel had no temple.  Personally, I think that the Psalm 83 War will bring about the opportunity for Israel to build the next temple.  Sadly, this will be the antichrist temple, but hold on my child because joy comes in the morning.  Jesus Christ is Soon2come!

Related Links:
Gideon--Israel's Turning Point

Will the Real Men of God Please Stand Up!  Deborah, Barak, and Abimelech

Stay Focused On The Word: Ehud and Jephthah

Relationships Do Matter!--Othniel and Samson

A Starting Point

His Voice--The Wilderness Call

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Luke 3:1-2

God called John when the world around him could not get much worse.  Perverse rulers reigned over both secular and religious life and the morality of the people could not digress much more.  This was established in the previous post in the series, His Voice –Evil Times.  While the world around him seemingly spun out of control, God calls John to be His voice.  When did this call come?  His call came when John was in the wilderness. 

The wilderness was a lonely place so desolate that shepherds could not graze their flocks.  The Greek word, eremos, also signifies the wilderness to be a place where there would be few or no people.  It would be so remote that it would be devoid of human interaction, aid, or assistance.  Strangely, the word is also used for women who had been depreciated by her husband.  In a place where no one could help, where no human hand could help, a place of solitude and loneliness, and where one might feel neglected, God called John to prepare the way for the Savior of all humanity.

Moses received his call while in the wilderness.  Like John, Moses also had a sense of divine destiny but probably felt like a failure after fleeing from Egypt. “For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not (Acts 7:25).”  He is now 80 years old and in a wilderness place.  It was a place at the end of himself.  He would be at the end of any hope to ever be used and devoid of any strength in himself, but that is where God called.  Was this where John was too?  Did he feel that his usefulness to God was over?  One thing is certain.  To be His voice we must understand that we can do nothing with the arm of flesh.  We must be at a point where our only hope is the Lord and His might. It is at this exact place God needs us to be to be mightily used of Him.  It was the wilderness school that prepared Moses and maybe John too.  

Was John led by Holy Spirit to this wilderness place?  That is what happened with Jesus.  “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1).”  It was this place of testing that prepared Jesus for ministry too.  Testing is not a bad thing but a preparatory thing.  It is the proving that makes us durable and strong in Christ to complete all God has set before.  Like steel that is tried, the heat of the wilderness hardens us to not throw in the towel when the future battles get tough.

Was it John’s way of getting alone with God to better hear God?  Jesus did this as well?  “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed (Luke 5:16).”  To hear God we often must find a place of solitude to enjoy His presence and to hear His direction.  To be His voice we must hear His voice so can speak His mind. 

Don’t worry about the wilderness place you may be in.  It may be God’s way of preparing you.  Look to Him and lean not on your own understanding.  Listen for that call and help to prepare the hearts of those he sends you too.  Remember, Jesus is Soon2Come. 

His Voice--Evil Times

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Luke 3:1-2

It is certain that we are living in an evil time.  Signs of impending danger due to the wickedness of the heart of man are seen continually.  When this wretchedness becomes an excuse, however, to stop being a vibrant witness for the Lord we need to reevaluate and reconsider human history while observing God’s intervention.  One such window into the heart of God and history is seen in the call of John the Baptist—God’s voice sent to prepare for the coming of the Lord.  Is that any different than what we are called to do today?

Luke, the physician who was also an outstanding historian, details precisely the timing of the call of John.  This was God’s call.  It was the Lord who broke in at this specific time to bring everlasting change.  He called John when society was at its worst.  Was this not a time so godless that the Son of God, Himself, was brutally beaten and nailed to an old rugged cross?  Before we consider our day, let’s consider John’s.

God called John when Tiberius Caesar was nearing the end of his reign.  This was a leader who Pliny the Elder called, “the gloomiest man of all.”  An outstanding military leader, he had divorced a wife he dearly loved only to marry a woman he hated at the request of Augustus for political gain (she also had divorced and remarried twice for political gain).  Did I mention that she, Julia, was the step sister of Tiberius?  She was such an adulterous woman that her list of lovers had to be exiled often to counter the scandals she created.  Yet, she was not to be out done by her perverse step-brother/husband.  He was a blatant pedophile who raped babies and young boys.  “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… the word of God came unto John…”

Tiberius Caesar

John received his assignment when Pilate reigned.  Need I say more?  “…Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea…the word of God came unto John…”

What about God’s word coming when Herod Antipas was Tetrarch?  Like Tiberius, he too divorced and remarried for political gain.  His new wife, Herodias, was also a relative.  She was married to his brother Phillip, but divorced him to marry Herod.  Herod was known for his wild and perverse parties.  The Bible tells us about one where the daughter of Herodias and Herod II danced to the applause of all and the affection of Herod.  Prompted by her mother for calling her out, John’s head on a platter would be Salome's pay.  Did I mention that Salome became the wife of Phillip also mentioned in Luke’s list?  Phillip married the daughter of his ex-wife who was now married to his brother!  “…and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis… the word of God came unto John…”

This was a time when evil men even ruled the “church”.  It was Annas and Caiaphas who hatched the plot to kill Jesus.  Need I say more?  Should I discuss the persecutions they oversaw which are spoken of in Acts?  “Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”

Truly this is an evil day, but what has changed?  Men have always been evil.  To combat this God sends His servants to be His voice crying out with a message of Hope in Christ.  Is He calling you to speak for Him?  Listen carefully!  You may hear that small still voice calling you to proclaim Christ; consequently, being a part of the solution and not the problem. He wants you to prepare the way of the LORD by warning those who may be in His path—calling them to reconciliation.  Speak quickly since Jesus Christ is Soon2Come! 

More on this another day…

Wide is the Gate

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

No excuses!!! It has been too long since I wrote.  I want to thank those who kept on me to write more.  Thank You!!

Have you ever wondered what gate Jesus was speaking about in the passage above? Of course we know He is symbolically speaking of Himself in that He calls Himself the door (or gate) in other passages such as John 10.  Yet, it still seems that He had a specific gate in mind.  It is quite possible that he actually did, and it was a gate that was a type of Himself given early in the history of Israel.  Let me explain.

First, consider the setting.  Jesus has gathered a large crowd and was in the closing portions of His famed Sermon on the Mount.  The people were absolutely in awe of the Lord's teaching.  They even said He taught as one having authority and  not like the other teachers of their day.  However, was Jesus just another itinerant rabbi sharing His insight about the Word of God?  No!  This is the Lord's only Savior--the Word made Flesh--the Lord our Righteousness.  He is the Aleph and the Tav (Alpha and Omega), an allusion to the sum total of all knowledge.  Many looked at Jesus that day, God's only savior, and saw Him as just a good preacher never realizing that He alone is the only way to the presence of the Father.  They were looking deep into the things of GOD's salvation only to turn away and exit towards the broad path of destruction.

Second, look at the immediate context.  Just prior Jesus discussed asking of God for His blessings.  What is the greatest blessing a soul can receive anyways?  Is it not salvation?  After the verses dealing with entering the straight gate we are warned to beware of false teachers.  What do these false teachers do?  Do they not lead men away from Christ and the truths of His salvation?  In essence, this entire passage is very related even to the place that after the warning Jesus says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven..."  Do you not enter a door?  Let's consider what door He may be speaking of--the wide gate that leads to a broad, open way as opposed to one that leads to a narrower walk.

Maybe we need to put "third" here.  As a man, wasn't Jesus very much Jewish--a descendant of Judah and an heir to King David?  Of course He was.  That means that as a man He would think on and teach from familiarity.  Having read the law many times as all other men His age had, He was very familiar with the instructions for the tabernacle.  There were three distinct entrances in the tabernacle.  The first was the only access to the sanctuary, the outer gate.  Of the three, it was the widest at 20 cubits.  It's colors; crimson, blue, and purple all pointed to the threefold ministry of Christ as prophet, priest, and king.  If you turned around at this point you were exiting back into that wide world with its many idols, traps, and snares.  Jesus was the gate!  Next came the veil which was directly behind the brass laver, and it was less than 10 cubits wide being held up on 5 pillars.  Finally, there was the veil of the Holy of Holies which was also less that 10 cubits wide and it had four pillars holding it.  Did you notice that the further one went in to access the presence of God the narrower the doorways were?

The Savior of all humanity was there teaching that day--God the Creator was in their midst. How many looked at the Door to Life and walked back out into the broad open expanse of the world that day? It is apparent that much of Jesus' message was on accessing the Kingdom of God, but many chose to turn from the hope they saw in Him and walk away to their own destruction.  It was as if they entered the tabernacle, looked around dissatisfied,  and then turned to leave through the widest of the gates never to return.  Truly, that is the path to ultimate destruction. To see Jesus and then to walk away is a tragedy!

If you happen to see Jesus for who He is today--seek to pass on to the altar God set up in the cross and leave your sin there.  Press onward and never seek to leave.  Jesus is GOD's only acceptable tabernacle!  Remember, He is soon 2 come!

The Intolerant

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This onefellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
Genesis 19:9-11

Tolerance is a two way street that most seem to travel only one way on.  The problem with most who cry the loudest for tolerance is that they are, themselves, usually militantly intolerant.  This is found to be true to a great degree here in the story of the destruction of Sodom.  This is a chapter that needs to be read and understood well in order to avoid similar judgement on across the land and to see how compromise can destroy others.  Has God called us to be tolerant of behaviors that cause a soul to be lost forever? Should a Christian accept opinions as valid and equal when they are  are opposed to the revealed will of God? Will compromise on what is right and wrong not hurt the one who is in error?

The Bible is very clear in its position on homosexuality and what defines marriage the way God intended in both Testaments.  The real issue, then, is not whether this lifestyle is wrong, but why is the enemy of men's souls pushing the fight to make evil seem good and good seem evil?  As said here before, the real issue comes down to the problem of trying to hide the cross.  The Bible is clear when it says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)."  By redefining what is sin, the god of this world, satan, has effectively hidden the Gospel.  One will not repent nor turn to Christ if he/she is under the delusion that their actions are not wrong.

Genesis 19 could well be a commentary on attitudes found today across America.  Two angels enter the city of Sodom to investigate the depth of darkness and, if needs be, to deliver Lot and his family.  Lot, who already knows and is tolerant of the evil, begs them to come to his house; however, it is already too late.  The men of Sodom have seen the angels who appear as men to them.  Do you think for a minute that they didn't understand Lot's opinion of their lifestyle?  By banging the door nearly off the hinges, they were showing their intolerance of his opinions.  It was as if they were saying, "accept our way of life, but we  will not tolerate your ideas."  This took place just today in Ohio when a federal judge, ruling by fiat, beat against the door of the voter approved gay marriage recognition ban and said that the law was "unconstitutional and unenforceable."  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/April/Ohio-Must-Recognize-Out-of-State-Gay-Marriage/

Lot's reaction is one of the saddest commentaries on compromise in all of the Word of God. Rather than solidly affirm what the purpose of God really was, he tried to appease the unappeasable. He brings his virgin daughters to the door and makes a twisted offer.  The men at the door saw right through this.  They knew it was a half measure.  It was as if Lot were saying, "While I don't agree with your choices, I'll meet you half way with a sin more along my liking." No wonder his own daughters came up with such a warped solution to the problem of carrying on the family name.  With an example like that...  Sin is sin and all sin must be seem for what it is.  Furthermore, there is but one cure for sin and that is the blood of Jesus Christ.  

Tell the truth!  Don't compromise what God has said with the opinions of men.  How will folks ever see the depth of their need for forgiveness if they don't see their condition from God's vantage point?  Church, stand strong and boldly proclaim the truth--for it is by truth that men are set free.  In an age similar to Lot's, a sure sign that angels may soon escort us out of here, stand firm by the power of the Holy Spirit and loudly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

A Personal Psalm 83 War

That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Psalm 83:18

Most who study prophecy would agree that the next major event on the horizon might well be the Psalm 83 War.  Israel will be involved in a battle with their immediate neighbors who have covenanted to wipe the Jewish race from the face of the earth.  Not only will Israel win this battle, but also in the process the nation will triple is size.  This will also lead to the ability to rebuild the temple that is to be one day desecrated by the infamous antichrist.  However, this Psalm could well be seen as much more than a descriptor of a future event.  It could also speak to each individual believer about their personal walk with Christ.

John Hyde was a missionary to India during the late 1800s and early 1900s, he became known worldwide as a mighty man of prayer.  Taking Christ as His word, Praying Hyde, as he was affectionately nicknamed, trusted God to give him a burden for the lost.  He prayed at a missionary convention day and night for God to allow him to win a soul a day throughout 1908.  He did!  This prayer was multiplied in 1909 as he prayed for two souls a day, and then believed for four a day in 1910.  His prayers were again answered.  However, there were days that it seemed that the request would not be honored. Rather that blame God, he asked the Holy Spirit to reveal what was in his own heart that was blocking the request from being answered. On this point he once remarked, "Self must not only be dead, but buried out of sight, for the stench of an unburied self-life will frighten souls away from Jesus."  What a challenging insight. Reading such an account from a man who seemingly lived at the very foot of the cross was heart rending to say the least.  It felt as if being with Isaiah before the throne and crying, "I am undone!"

Many, if not all of the nations mentioned as invading Israel in this upcoming battle are also mighty examples of biblical symbolism.  Esau is the father of the Edomites.  This is the same Esau, brother of Jacob (Israel), who sold his birthright for a bean dinner.  It is well known that this man is a shadow of those who follow the flesh. Another antagonist in the list of combatants in Psalm 83 is Amalek, Esau's grandson.  It was Amalek who attacked Israel on their wilderness journey and to who God said, "Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16)."  How could God fight this long annihilated tribe of people perpetually from generation to generation?  Because God is ever engaged in fighting fleshliness in each of us!  While the devil and the world are formidable foes, we usually are our own worst enemies.  

You see, God wants to win us!  Jesus shared many paradoxical statements that prove this without a doubt.  In order to live, you must die--even bearing a cross.  If you seek to save your life you will lose it, but whoever loses his life shall find it.  In order to be great in the Kingdom, you must humble self and be the least being even a servant to all.  It is here we all need to place our lives on the altar before the Almighty and become as stubble before the wind of His holy presence (Psalm 83:13).  We need to be burnt at the altar even as Psalm 83:14 suggests that fire destroys the enemies of God.  To be a victorious overcomer in Christ, we must be overcome.  We need a victory in our personal Psalm 83 War.  

John Hyde knew the secret of an ongoing life of victory in Jesus.  He knew how to assure that all men would see that the LORD was the most high over all of the earth.  The secret is dying to self and being wholly buried in Christ so that all may see Christ in us, the hope of glory.  My prayer for you and me is that the LORD will overcome us all so that all may know that the LORD is God and many, as a result, will willingly submit to the grace of the cross as they see lives thoroughly devoted to Jesus.  May the LORD expand our borders in Him and make us all to be His visible temple among men.  May all see by our submission to the LORD of Glory and that He is Soon2Come!

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

The Last Shall Be First

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Mark 10:31

It is certain that Jesus upset the apple cart when it came to how he responded to those pushed aside by society.  He did say that the first (those highly valued by other men) shall be last and that the last (those who tended to be despised and rejected) would be first.  A brief look at three examples reveals the truth on this matter, and it should speak to our own hearts about the value that God has placed on all men.  Whether it was lowly shepherds, condemned criminals, or women made to feel they were second rate by societal norms, Jesus sanctified that value of all humans in His gracious treatment of those pushed aside and overlooked.

Most know that the Egyptians considered shepherds with much disdain prior to the Exodus; however, most seem to think that shepherding was a noble profession in the land of Judea at the time of the the birth of Jesus.  Actually, the very opposite was true.  Shepherds were on the bottom rung of the social ladder.  A close study will find that they were often deprived of their rights, they were considered unworthy to be a witness in any legal proceeding, and the term "incompetent" was often associated with the profession.  One Mishnah went as far as to say that a person was under no obligation to rescue a shepherd that had fallen into a pit. Talk about the bottom of the barrel!  This was also a profession that some believed should not be taught to children.  You just about could not get any lower.  Now, who did the Almighty value so much that He made them the first witnesses to the birth of the Savior of mankind.  "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.(Luke 2:8-9)."  As Jesus might say, Truly I tell you that the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Nobody likes a thief even today.  It was no different in the Lord's day.  If a shepherd was low, a criminal was even lower.  They lost all rights and most often were penalized with very harsh sentences as we see with the condemning of the two thieves hung on either side of Jesus.  In their story, suspended between the heavens and the earth there with the Son of God, is the essence of the whole gospel message.  All are guilty and worthy of death.  It seems at first both thieves railed accusations at Jesus.  Why would the Son of Man allow himself to be associated with such vile people, even to be numbered among them?  Because God is not so high and mighty that His grace cannot reach the lowest of the low. There was something about Jesus that eventually caught the eye of one of those robbers.  Was it His suffering?  Maybe it was His kind words to His followers? Could it have been His forgiving the very Roman squad that nailed Him to the tree?  Finally, the thief cried out for forgiveness.  The lowest of the low, a convicted felon, pleads out and pleads for mercy.  Many might look down on him for his crime, but not Jesus.  He allowed this man to be the first to enter His kingdom truly making the last first.  Won't you join Jesus in His Kingdom?  Plead out now and live.  Don't be like the other thief who rejected Jesus that Day and lost his soul.  Jesus still makes the first last and the last first.

Women, sadly, were considered the very bottom of society in that day, and we know that there are cultures where they still hold that terrible position (some even teaching that the majority of people in hell are women).  They had no rights, could not testify in court, could own no property, could work no job or own a business in Judea at that time.  The only schooling a little girl would be given was training in household duties.  While boys could go to school and learn, girls were deprived of an education.  But Jesus makes the last first.  This teacher allowed women to follow Him and learn even as we see Mary at His feet with the apostles learning of the promises of God.  It is a well known fact that the testimony of women was ignored since they held such a low place in that culture.  Why then did Jesus allow the lowest of the low, women, to be the first witnesses to His resurrection?  This must have been an embarrassing fact to the folks in Jesus day--oversensitive women saw a risen dead man first.  No!  It was no accident at all that a woman, even one with a colorful past, was the first at the tomb because Jesus loves those who are least esteemed by others.  Ladies, when the men ran like babies, the teenager, John, and the women bravely stayed at His side to the very end, and their faithfulness was returned when they visited that empty tomb. Jesus still makes the first last and the last first.

You see, Jesus was not like any other man, because when we see Jesus we see the face of God; we see His mercy, His grace, and His compassion.  Men, (and even some "Christians") may push others aside as meaningless, but not Jesus.  Jesus doesn't see skin color or sex and recoil with dislike as He knows all men and women are sons and daughters of fallen Adam.  He doesn't look at a persons intelligence to see if they are worthy learning of Him. He doesn't count the number of dreaded sins a person has committed and conclude that one is beyond his help.  He doesn't check bank records or personal property values and then rank a person.  No!  Jesus builds His flock with the spotted lambs just like you and me.  All one needs to do is be humble in the sight of the LORD and He will lift them up.  Call on Jesus and ask for Him to plead your cause through the power of His cross that associated with all of our lowliness and He will lift you up. Do it quickly as Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!