Conformation

Tehillim (Psalms) 107:23-30

Those who go down to the sea in ships,
plying their trade on the great ocean,
saw the works of ADONAI,
his wonders in the deep.
For at his word the storm-wind arose,
lifting up towering waves.
The sailors were raised up to the sky,
then plunged into the depths.
At the danger, their courage failed them,
they reeled and staggered like drunk men,
and all their skill was swallowed up.
In their trouble they cried to ADONAI,
and he rescued them from their distress.
He silenced the storm and stilled its waves,
and they rejoiced as the sea grew calm.
Then he brought them safely
to their desired port.

More than thousand years before the event, the psalmist predicts the actions of the talmidim on the sea of Galilee. How can this not be the Word of God confirmed by its repeated fulfilling of prophecy! Lord Your Word is wonderful and life giving an ever-flowing spring in the desert of this world of selfish rebellion. Forgive us Lord and bring us back to You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Only Trusting

Yochanan (John) 1:12

But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.

Salvation can come in only one form.  Trusting in the one through all things were created, there is no other way.  By understanding Yeshua’s sacrifice and trusting in its power we will see ADONAI because He is true to His Word.  Thank You Lord for Your salvation! Amen.

Fast Righteously

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 58:6-10

“Here is the sort of fast I want—

releasing those unjustly bound,

untying the thongs of the yoke,

letting the oppressed go free,

breaking every yoke,

sharing your food with the hungry,

taking the homeless poor into your house,

clothing the naked when you see them,

fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen!” 

Then your light will burst forth like the morning,

your new skin will quickly grow over your wound;

your righteousness will precede you,

and ADONAI’s glory will follow you.

Then you will call, and ADONAI will answer;

you will cry, and he will say, “Here I am.”

If you will remove the yoke from among you,

stop false accusation and slander,

generously offer food to the hungry and meet the needs of the person in trouble;

then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom become like noon.

We who trust in ADONA are to be the social net to the world, not governments created by men.  If we truly want to get back to the congregation reported in Acts where everything was shared and needs were met then we must take care of the widow, the orphan and the foreigner so they too can trust God.  Then and only then will ADONAI will answer us.  Lord give me the patience and the discipline to serve You for many times I have dismissed the needs of others because I was selfish.  Let me see with Your eyes and show others Your love.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

The lost

2 Kefa (2 Peter) 2:20-21

Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.

Kefa is writing about false teachers and prophets, but I think this applies to any who fall away from trusting in ADONAI.  What could be worse than knowing salvation only to give it up for some momentary selfish want.  Lord guard my heart from such hubris.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Prayer Praise Learn Repeat

2 Kefa (2 Peter) 1:12-15

For this reason, I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you already have. And I consider it right to keep stirring you up with reminders, as long as I am in the tent of this body. I know that I will soon lay aside this tent of mine, as our Lord Yeshua the Messiah has made clear to me. And I will do my best to see that after my exodus, you will be able to remember these things at all times.

Repetition drives home the lesson, Kefa had just listed a series of traits the body of believers should pursue so as to strengthen their trust in Yeshua ha Mashiach, the salvation ADONAI had designed for us before the beginning of time. How do we do this? By giving thanks daily to ADONAI for giving us a life worth living, praising His holy name and rejoicing in all the blessing we receive from His hand, and the correction too. It is by the correction He shows His mercy and love for us. To gather each night in fellowship as family and tell each other of the grace received and how God had been faithful as we worked our way through the day. Lord instill in me the faithfulness to be called Your child. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Be Alert

1 Kefa (1 Peter) 5:8-10

Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering. You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm.

When we as believers stand up to the lies of this world we must stand firmly, without waver, letting ourselves be anchored by the Word of God. It is that trust in the ADONAI that allows the Ruach HaKodesh to infill us and endure the pain the Adversary causes because Satan is only allowed a short time to assail us when we are in union with God’s will. Abba keep me near You in the trials that are ahead. Let me always feel Your hand of guidance on me and let me always pursue Your heart. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

False Idols

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 44:14-20

He goes to chop down cedars;

he takes an evergreen and an oak;

he especially tends one tree in the forest,

plants a pine for the rain to nourish.

In time, when it’s ready for use as fuel,

he takes some of it to keep himself warm

and burns some more to bake bread.

Then he makes a god and worships it,

carves it into an idol and falls down before it.

So half of it he burns in the fire;

with that half he roasts meat and eats his fill;

he warms himself; says, “It feels so good,

getting warm while watching the flames!”

With the rest of the log he fashions a god,

a carved image, then falls down before it;

he worships it and prays to it.

“Save me,” he says, “for you are my god!”

Such people know nothing, understand nothing.

Their eyes are sealed shut, so that they can’t see;

their hearts too, so they can’t understand.

Not one thinks to himself or has the knowledge

or the discernment to say,

“I burned half of it in the fire,

baked bread on its coals, roasted meat and ate it.

Should I now make the rest an abomination?

Should I prostrate myself to a tree trunk?”

He is relying on ashes!

A deceived heart has led him astray;

so that now he won’t save himself, just won’t say,

“This thing in my hand is a fraud!”

There is no idol that we can make that we truly believe has power.  We lie to ourselves, we justify, we speculate but in the end any idol we make is nothing but fuel for the fire.  There is only one God and He stands outside the bounds of all creation but seeks to reconcile back to us if we only trust in Him.  Lord You have torn down many idols and misconceptions in my life with Your Wisdom through Yeshua.  Do not let me faulter as I become more focused on You.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Constant

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 41:4

Whose work is this? Who has brought it about?

He who called the generations from the beginning,

“I, ADONAI, am the first;

and I am the same with those who are last.”

There is only one constant in our lives and that is ADONAI!  He never changes so He can be the rock that we can build our trust on forever.  Thank You Lord for Your true consistency in this world of selfish flux and change. Praise Your Holy Name, Amen!

Forbearance

1 Kefa (1 Peter) 2:19-25

For it is a grace when someone, because he is mindful of God, bears up under the pain of undeserved punishment. For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with favor. Indeed, this is what you were called to; because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,
nor was any deceit found on his lips.”
When he was insulted, he didn’t retaliate with insults; when he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but handed them over to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness—by his wounds you were healed. For you used to be like sheep gone astray, but now you have turned to the Shepherd, who watches over you.

I read and reread this passage and I see how my willingness to step up to the fight can be so easily misplaced. While I do believe in righteous anger such as Yeshua showed at the temple, Kefa is telling us as the body of believers we must look past the day to day insults so that by our actions the people doing the beating will see the love of God for themselves through our steadfastness and by not sinking to a worldly anger that will allow them to say “you are just like us”. Then our blessings for them will truly become coals upon their head until they come to trust in ADONAI. Lord this is a hard lesson of forbearance. Let me take this to heart and be the strong servant of Your Word. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

It is a Vocation

1 Kefa (1 Peter) 1:13

Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed.

Salvation is not an event and then we move on, it is a vocation, a calling that requires dedication and focus so we can see the end of the race as described by Sha’ul.  As in all things worthy there is work and focus needed so that the fruits of our trust in ADONAI will stand clear on Yeshua’s return.  Lord let me be worthy of that ingathering.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.