“I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” — Romans 11:1–2 (NKJV)
Jesus came first to the lost sheep of Israel. He wept over Jerusalem, healed within Israel’s borders, and sent His disciples to preach first to His own people. He was the Jewish Messiah, and His mission fulfilled the promises made to the patriarchs. As He hung on the cross for all mankind, a sign above Him read in every known language: King of the Jews. Though His heart ached over Israel’s hardness, He never gave up on them.
Paul carried this same heart. Even as the apostle to the Gentiles, he never ceased loving and longing for his own people to come to salvation. He boldly declared that God had not rejected Israel and that their calling was irrevocable. But like every lost person, they must respond to that call through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul warned Gentile believers not to grow arrogant or detached, but to remember that they were grafted into a story that began with Abraham—the father of our faith (Romans 4:16).
Paul’s love for Israel is unmistakable: “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2–3). That’s one of the most astounding statements in all his letters—and it should reflect the Church’s heart for the lost, especially for the Jewish people.
Jesus and Paul were both clear: there is no other way to salvation except through Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Peter echoed this truth in Acts: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Israel matters to God—and that means Israel should matter to us.
Paul says Israel is beloved for the sake of the fathers (Romans 11:28), and Jesus said, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). To love what God loves is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), to honor God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:3), and to believe for the full restoration of Israel to the Messiah.
We are to witness to Israel, honor her place in God’s plan, and pray for eyes to be opened to Jesus.
God’s plan for Israel is not finished. As the Church, we must be stirred with love, urgency, and faith—for the Jewish people and for all who are lost.
Speak blessing. Sow prayer. Expect an awakening.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Jesus came first to the lost sheep of Israel. He wept over Jerusalem, healed within Israel’s borders, and sent His disciples to preach first to His own people. He was the Jewish Messiah, and His mission fulfilled the promises made to the patriarchs. As He hung on the cross for all mankind, a sign above Him read in every known language: King of the Jews. Though His heart ached over Israel’s hardness, He never gave up on them.
Paul carried this same heart. Even as the apostle to the Gentiles, he never ceased loving and longing for his own people to come to salvation. He boldly declared that God had not rejected Israel and that their calling was irrevocable. But like every lost person, they must respond to that call through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul warned Gentile believers not to grow arrogant or detached, but to remember that they were grafted into a story that began with Abraham—the father of our faith (Romans 4:16).
Paul’s love for Israel is unmistakable: “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2–3). That’s one of the most astounding statements in all his letters—and it should reflect the Church’s heart for the lost, especially for the Jewish people.
Jesus and Paul were both clear: there is no other way to salvation except through Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Peter echoed this truth in Acts: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Israel matters to God—and that means Israel should matter to us.
Paul says Israel is beloved for the sake of the fathers (Romans 11:28), and Jesus said, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). To love what God loves is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), to honor God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:3), and to believe for the full restoration of Israel to the Messiah.
We are to witness to Israel, honor her place in God’s plan, and pray for eyes to be opened to Jesus.
God’s plan for Israel is not finished. As the Church, we must be stirred with love, urgency, and faith—for the Jewish people and for all who are lost.
Speak blessing. Sow prayer. Expect an awakening.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
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2026
January
Day 1: Knowing Jesus is Eternal LifeDay 2: That I May Know HimDay 3: The Supremacy of ChristDay 4: Christ the FoundationDay 5: Forgiven CompletelyDay 6: Forgive as You’ve Been ForgivenDay 7: A New CreationDay 8: Righteous by FaithDay 9: Adopted and ChosenDay 10: Accepted in the BelovedDay 11: Seated with ChristDay 12: God’s WorkmanshipDay 13: Nothing Can Separate YouDay 14: Christ in You, the Hope of GloryDay 15: The Mind of ChristDay 16: The Image of God RestoredDay 17: Grace That TeachesDay 18: The Measure of FaithDay 19: Faith Works by LoveDay 20: The Faith of the Son of GodDay 21: The Crucified LifeDay 22: Renew Your MindDay 23: Take Every Thought CaptiveDay 24: Think on These ThingsDay 25: Be Spiritually Minded
February
Day 26: Press Toward the GoalDay 27: Led by the SpiritDay 28: Walk in the SpiritDay 29: Spirit of Power, Love, and Sound MindDay 30: Empowered From On HighDay 31: Healing Is in the AtonementDay 32: Minister Healing to OthersDay 33: Pray in the SpiritDay 34: The Spirit Helps Our WeaknessDay 35: Be Filled ContinuouslyDay 36: Gifts of the SpiritDay 37: Spirit-Led MinistryDay 38: Fruit of the SpiritDay 39: The Spirit Bears WitnessDay 40: Walk Worthy of Your CallingDay 41: Love Is the GreatestDay 42: Unity of the SpiritDay 43: Forgive One AnotherDay 44: Serve in LoveDay 45: Bear One Another’s BurdensDay 46: Honor Others Above YourselfDay 47: Godly RelationshipsDay 48: Love in the HomeDay 49: Hospitality and GenerosityDay 50: Giving and GenerosityDay 51: Pray Without Ceasing Day 52: Seated with Christ in AuthorityDay 53: Reigning in Life Through Christ
March
Day 54: Put on the Armor — Stand in VictoryDay 55: Life Is a MissionDay 56: Ambassadors for ChristDay 57: Share Your StoryDay 58: Not Ashamed of the GospelDay 59: Make Disciples Who MultiplyDay 60: Redeem the TimeDay 61: Open Doors and Bold SpeechDay 62: Witness to, Honor, and Pray for IsraelDay 63: Suffer for the GospelDay 64: Strength in WeaknessDay 65: Don’t Lose HeartDay 66: Our Light and Momentary TroublesDay 67: Set Your Mind on EternityDay 68: Death, Grief, and Eternal Hope