Understanding

Romans 1:20-23

For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities—both his eternal power and his divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; because, although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. Claiming to be wise, they have become fools! In fact, they have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for mere images, like a mortal human being, or like birds, animals or reptiles!

 

The bible is not required to introduce ADONAI to us, His very creation tells us that ADONAI is real and He is the Lord of All. Too many stop here and know of God but fail to get to know God as a personal friend and savior through Yeshua’s sacrifice, I know I did for many many years. By just recognizing the introduction through creation but failing to search ADONAI out in scripture has let our selfish natures take over and worship what we create instead of THE CREATOR. Abba forgive us of our folly for thinking as a nation that we are worthy of self worship. Forgive us as a nation for placing the science and culture that You have given us as more important than placing our trust in You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Idle

2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Now, in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah we command you, brothers, to stay away from any brother who is leading a life of idleness, a life not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. For you yourselves know how you must imitate us, that we were not idle when we were among you. We did not accept anyone’s food without paying; on the contrary, we labored and toiled, day and night, working so as not to be a burden to any of you. It was not that we hadn’t the right to be supported, but so that we could make ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: if someone won’t work, he shouldn’t eat! We hear that some of you are leading a life of idleness—not busy working, just busybodies! We command such people—and in union with the Lord Yeshua the Messiah we urge them—to settle down, get to work, and earn their own living.

 

I have to work or I will be the negative example Sha’ul is writing about. In those times that I have become excessive idle is when I fail and sin the most. Not just in failing to observe ADONAI’s laws but actually answer the question “did God really say that?” wrong and thus sin. This tool, this tradition of journaling has helped keep me busy and focused on what God would have me do. Serving in a trusting congregation fills other time that could be idle and being wed to a believing and praying wife and blessed with believing children and grandchildren fills the rest of my time. Thank You Abba for all that You have given me so that I will not fail in my trust of Your salvation which is Your Word, Yeshua and the sacrifice that He made for our sins. Keep me occupied in Your will, I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Press on

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God’s congregations in Y’hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua—you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who both killed the Lord Yeshua and the prophets, and chased us out too. They are displeasing God and opposing all mankind by trying to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be delivered. Their object seems to be always to make their sins as bad as possible!

 

As believers we follow by example of those who have brought Yeshua’s salvation to us. What we tend to gloss over is the fact that people had to struggle against sin and sinners to bring us that message. Sha’ul tells us that “For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” We must always keep pressing to the mark so others may know ADONAI’s love for them. Dear Lord let us all who trust in You be the light You would have us be to drive back the darkness. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Trust

Psalm 125:1

A song of ascents:

Those who trust in ADONAI

are like Mount Tziyon,

which cannot be moved

but remains forever.

 

It is our trust in ADONAI that allows us to supernaturally accept the sacrifice of Yeshua and ensure an eternal life of joy. Praise God for giving us the will to follow His Word! Amen.

Test of Time

Matthew 24:1-2

As Yeshua left the Temple and was going away, his talmidim came and called his attention to its buildings. But he answered them, “You see all these? Yes! I tell you, they will be totally destroyed—not a single stone will be left standing!”

 

There is nothing that we as mankind can create that stands up to God’s Word. The Word spoke all creation into existence and walked with Adam in the garden, gave itself to Moshe to govern the people, inspired the prophets to speak truth to the world, and finally gave form to itself in the body of Yeshua to be sacrificed and remove all sin from the earth. Nothing man has created through engineering or science can ever equal that. ADONAI Echad, Lord You are complete in all that You do. Nothing can compare to the complexities of Your creation. Lord I praise You this morning for how great You are. Lord please bless us as we move through our lives to serve You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Eternal Life

Matthew 22:29-32

Yeshua answered them, “The reason you go astray is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh and of the power of God. For in the Resurrection, neither men nor women will marry; rather, they will be like angels in heaven. And as for whether the dead are resurrected, haven’t you read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya’akov’?He is God not of the dead but of the living!”

 

I don’t understand a lot about our eternal life. I read the Word and I know we will be worshiping ADONAI and there will be a new heaven and new earth. But the one thing I know to the very bottom of my bones is that it will be a life worth living forever. Lord I pray that in this time of refining that You have given me in this earthly life that I am able to live a life worthy of You, but I can only do this with Your salvation and help through the Ruach. So fill me Lord and keep me in Your hand. I ask this in Yeshua’s name as He taught us, amen.

Face value

Matthew 18:21-35

Because of this, the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared with a king who decided to settle accounts with his deputies. Right away they brought forward a man who owed him many millions; and since he couldn’t pay, his master ordered that he, his wife, his children and all his possessions be sold to pay the debt. But the servant fell down before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ So out of pity for him, the master let him go and forgave the debt.

“But as that servant was leaving, he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him some tiny sum. He grabbed him and began to choke him, crying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ His fellow servant fell before him and begged, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown in jail until he should repay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed; and they went and told their master everything that had taken place. Then the master summoned his servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt just because you begged me to do it. Shouldn’t you have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And in anger his master turned him over to the jailers for punishment until he paid back everything he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat you, unless you each forgive your brother from your hearts.”

 

In this parable Yeshua is teaching that we should not be two faced in our worship of ADONAI. If He is willing to forgive us our sins then we must be willing to forgive those who have wronged us. We cannot as confessed believers go for a couple of hours a week to a service and act one way before God only to leave and act another way before our fellow man. Lord keep me from imposing my imperfect will in my life but always following Your will for me. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Traditions

Matthew 15:1-6

​ Then some P’rushim and Torah-teachers from Yerushalayim came to Yeshua and asked him, “Why is it that your talmidim break the Tradition of the Elders? They don’t do n’tilat-yadayim (ceremonial washing of hands) before they eat!” He answered, “Indeed, why do you break the command of God by your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, “I have promised to give to God what I might have used to help you,” then he is rid of his duty to honor his father or mother.’ Thus by your tradition you make null and void the word of God!

 

Traditions are a great thing to pass down to our children and grandchildren. They create a connection to the past and create a place of comfort in our lives for the storms that we face. But sometimes traditions overpower what we should be doing for God. We become so focused on the mechanics of tradition that we forget we as believers must always look to help the widow and orphan and foreigner in our land. ADONAI no matter what I do, let me stay focused on You always, I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Shabbat

Matthew 12:9-12

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue. A man there had a shriveled hand. Looking for a reason to accuse him of something, they asked him, “Is healing permitted on Shabbat?” But he answered, “If you have a sheep that falls in a pit on Shabbat, which of you won’t take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore, what is permitted on Shabbat is to do good.”

 

They will know us by our fruit, Yeshua and others repeat that multiple times when showing how to judge someone of following the will of God or their own selfish delusions. One of the first things is how we as believers treat Shabbat. If it is a day of a couple of hours of worship and then we are off to the next party or working for money that gets us no where, then I don’t believe we are keeping ADONAI’s day holy. Of course we can swing the other way and do absolutely nothing, but then there is no worship of ADONAI in that. Personally for me, I try to do good, help people, do things for my family, worship, pray and read the Word. By showing the world that we as believers keep Shabbat I believe is one of the first fruits that we show the world. Lord never let me to forget to fall into Your rest and honor Your Shabbat. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Losing myself

Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his own life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for my sake will find it.

To think that I wasted so many years trying to decide who I was gonna be only to find myself fulfilled by losing myself in Yeshua’s salvation. Abba thank You for Your grace, amen.