How Can They Tell?

“Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me – on me and on your people – if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.” Exodus 33:15-16 (New Living Translation – NLT)

This is a self-explanatory scripture (little explanation is necessary). I would recommend you read the chapters before Exodus 33 to understand them in context.

Rather than analyze what Moshe (Moses) did say, let us do the opposite. Let’s say of few words about what Moses did not say:

• He did not say- the size of our building sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.
• He did not say- the size of our community sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.
• He did not say- the amount of money we have (or spend) sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.
• He did not say- the number of ministries we participate in (or run) sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.
• He did not say- the amount of good works we do sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.

Let me repeat what Moses did say:

For your presence among us sets your people apart from all other people on the earth.

In a similar vein, Yeshua (Jesus) stated:

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13: 34-36. (NLT)

Let’s say of few words about what Yeshua did not say:

• He did not say- The size of our building will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
• He did not say- The size of our community will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
• He did not say- The amount of money we have (or spend) will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
• He did not say- The number of ministries we participate in (or run) will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
• He did not say- The amount of good works we do will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

These things are not bad in and of themselves. It is simply that they should be the result of being in love with the Lord and walking in love towards each other.

Let me repeat what Yeshua did say

Your LOVE for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

Joseph’s Choices

Have you ever wondered how Joseph’s life could have been different if he had made other choices in his life? Obviously, the only answer is “Only the Lord knows.” However, there were points while a slave in Egypt where Joseph could have done things differently if he had chosen to do so.

• While running the estate of Potiphar, Joseph received the favor the Lord. He could have chosen to take advantage of the situation. He chose not to.
• He could have chosen to have an affair with Potiphar’s wife. It was unthinkable to him to make that choice.
• While Joseph was in prison and running the lives of the prisoners, he received the favor the Lord. Joseph could have chosen to take advantage of the situation and the prisoners around him. He chose not to.
• While interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh, the Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker, Joseph could have tried to take a little credit. Instead, he gave the glory to God.
• Joseph, a slave, had the amazing audacity to give Pharaoh some advice. His intention was to save lives, not self-promotion. Joseph could have been executed but was instead promoted to governor of Egypt.
• When he saw his brothers, Joseph could have refused their request for food. He chose to forgive.

At each of these times in Joseph’s life things could have gone differently if he had so chosen. If he had made a different choice in any of the situations mentioned, the outcome of the entire story could have been different or it might have been the same. Only the Lord knows, but that is the key to the entire story. ONLY THE LORD KNOWS. Joseph made choices that pleased the Lord not man. Since he never would have thought in his wildest dreams that he would eventually become governor of Egypt (would you in his situation!), Joseph’s choices were simply a reflection of his devotion to the Lord. He chose to obey God and to do the best he could while being a slave. Joseph made choices that, in retrospect, had future consequences, but to him they were simply choices that had to be made.

You never know where your path will lead. Only the Lord knows. Like Joseph, the Lord might or might not be planning to promote us into a situation that earlier in our life would seem wild and crazy. However, whether that happens or not, we should remain devoted to the Lord, obey Him and do the best we can where we are.

Post Elections: Some Thoughts

It’s been 4 days since the November 8, 2008 elections, which included the presidential elections. A lot has seemingly changed in this country, on the surface at least. I’ve read several articles and a few blogs on this issue, some secular and some theological. I have talked to a few brothers in the Lord on this issue as well. I could go on a little, but I won’t.

I have been coming to several tentative conclusions and I think all of us as followers of Yeshua need to think on a few things. Here are a few of them in no particular order.

Economic: To get “out” of this economic mess will likely take considerable time. Things will never be the same and I am not sure that I would want it to be the same as it was. When the Depression and World War II ended there was a time of economic prosperity. Yet many of those that went through the Depression and the subsequent War Shortages maintained a mental attitude of frugality throughout the rest of their life. They remembered the hard times and never forgot them. They continued to save their shekels. An example was my paternal grandfather. In the future, it would seem likely, based on my previous example that after what might be several months or a few years of hard times, sacrifice and frugality that many people will maintain a lifestyle of thriftiness. There is therefore the possibility that things will never be the same. Pray for those under 30 as most of them have no idea what a recession is, let alone anything worse.

Rules, Regulations: There has been a lot of talk in the last 2 decades about a Free Market economy. I am not sure how everyone defines this term but here is something to consider. Does anyone still remember that a system with little or no rules is not biblical? It’s called Lawlessness, or if you are familiar with Messianic Jewish Terms: Torahlessness. If you don’t believe me than look at the book of Judges. You will see a phrase that is repeated several times – everyone did what is right in their own eyes. On the other hand, too much legalism will kill. Is it possible that some of us in the body of Messiah have bought into a philosophy that doesn’t line up with scripture-without even batting an eyelash? We need to find a balance in this country.

Which brings up the next statement.

Back to the basics: I wonder if we as the body of Messiah in America need to step back for a while and get back to remembering some of the biblical basics. It seems as if several weeds have been mixed in with the wheat and are growing together. Some people have gotten so involved with politics that it seems to me as if some of us have tried to take some of the values of the Republican Party and/or Conservative philosophy and believed that they could combine it with Biblical values, or worse, replace it. In the process, they seem to have gotten lost as to what are true biblical standards and what are man-made ideas. (I could easily say the same thing on the Democratic side). Don’t get me wrong, I am for followers of Yeshua to be involved in the political process, all the way up to running for president. I am for standing up for life and biblical values. Yet, I see some followers of Yeshua parrot (as in “repeat”) philosophies that aren’t biblical (see “Rules, Regulations”)

Change: It’s become an overused word of late. Yet, I can’t seem to shake it. It keeps coming up in front of me. Yes, politicians are using this word. Yes, our country needs to change in some areas, particularly the moral issues. I wonder though, if the Lord is speaking through the politicians to us as followers of Yeshua (like Balaam’s donkey) about change. Perhaps He is allowing the current series of crises to occur to get our attention. He has tried to communicate to us in other ways and yet we continue, largely, to ignore the warnings. God loves us. Yet He also loves us enough not to leave us where we are. We want revival in this country. Yet those that study revival repeatedly state that revival starts with each of us

I came across this quote recently:

Someone asked the famous revivalist Gypsy Smith how we get revival. He simply said, “Draw a circle on the ground. Sit in the circle and pray that God will start a revival in me.”

Kingdom vs. Democracy: I am throwing this paragraph in strictly to get you thinking. We, as Americans, have gotten so used to being in a democracy and all the things that we think belong in a democracy: Freedom of speech, disagreements, politics, elections, individualism, prosperity and so forth. We need to remember that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy. It is a kingdom run by a king. There are huge implications behind this statement. Study it for yourselves. I guarantee you will be studying it for a long time.

Some Lesson’s are Harder to Learn

Sometimes, for whatever reason, some lessons in our life are harder to learn that others are. Whether it is because of our personality or the fact that it gets harder to change as one gets older, sometimes we need to take unusual means to be trained in the way we should go. In Scripture, there are some people where the Lord took unusual measures to make sure they never forgot the lesson.

Ya’acov (Jacob): He spent a long time manipulating and being manipulated. The list is much too large: his father and mother, his brother Esau, his wives and his father-in-law. His life to that point was one of constant struggle to get the best of others. Yet Jacob must have realized that he was not doing something right because he decided to set things right with his brother Esau. The internal struggle in him was graphically dramatized by having an all-night wrestling match with the Angel of the Lord, which is the Lord Himself, Yeshua. When the Lord pronounced the statement that Ya’acov had struggled with God and Man and had overcome, He was saying that Jacob was learning the lesson. To make sure that the message would never be forgotten, the Lord wrenched the socket of one of Ya’acovs hip. Now his pain and limping would be a constant reminder of the lesson and a guarantee that Jacob would never return to the way he used to be.

Kefa (Peter): Loyal and headstrong, Kefa was zealous for the Lord. Willing to take some risks and make mistakes, he sometimes leapt before he looked. When Yeshua (Jesus) prophesied that Kefa would betray the Lord, Peter was certain that it would never happen. Later, after Yeshua was arrested, Peter did in fact betray the Lord. When the rooster crowed and Peter remembered the prophecy, he must have gone into shock when he realized that he had indeed turned his back on Yeshua. Coming to the end of himself and because of his shame, Kefa wept uncontrollably. After the resurrection, Yeshua restored Peter. Now wherever Peter went the crowing of the rooster would be a reminder of the grace of God and a guarantee that Peter would never return to the way he used to be.

Paul’s (Shaul) thorn in the flesh: No one knows exactly what the thorn was, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the purpose of the thorn in the flesh: to keep Paul humble and dependant on the Lord. The thorn in the flesh was a constant reminder to Paul of his weakness and of the grace of God. It would serve as a guarantee that he would not return to the world of pride in himself and his accomplishments.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Messiah. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2Corinthians 12: 8-10 (New Living Translation – NLT – Messianic terms added.

How Blunt Were James and John?

I was recently reading the books of James (Ya’acov) and 1 John (1 Yohanan) and I couldn’t help but notice the type of wording and phrasing they were using. They were loving but frank and blunt. When it came to living the life that Yeshua (Jesus) expected people to live, they were upfront about their beliefs. Either you lived it or you didn’t. They weren’t asking for perfection, they just wanted you to live your life completely for Yeshua.

How blunt were James and John? Look at these verses (bold type added):
“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless.” James 1:26 (New Living Translation – NLT)

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? James 2:14 NLT

“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?” James 4:4 NLT

“Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged, for look-the Judge is standing at the door.” James 5:9 NLT

“If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.” 1John 2:4 NLT

“If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a brother, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.” 1John 2:9-11 NLT

Their attitude is similar to Yeshua’s statement in the book of Revelation. In that letter, Yeshua told the congregation in Laodicea to make a choice, be white hot or completely cold. By the way, while we are on the subject, Yeshua and His disciples expect you to be honest about where you stand – no pretending please. The very concept of calling yourself a disciple of Yeshua and not living completely for Yeshua was ridiculous to James and John, an oxymoron. The emissaries (apostles) of Yeshua considered the outcome of repentance and salvation to be a life lived radically and totally for Yeshua.

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24: 14-15 (NKJV)