Category Archives: Traditions / Holidays

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy / Set Apart, Parables, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Traditions / Holidays

The Widower Who Remarried: a Parable for the Holidays

In the tender narrative of a devoted widower, a poignant tale unfolds—a love story marked by cherished habits and traditions. This man, who once joyfully celebrated his first wife’s preferences with flowers, candy, and thoughtful gestures, found himself caught in the grip of those very traditions when she passed away.

Just to be clear, this is not a biblical parable, but one based on biblical teaching and one that is true many times over.

Grief-stricken but resilient, he remarried after a time of grieving, unaware of the impending storm that would brew within the walls of his new life. His second wife, with distinct tastes and desires, yearned for a love uniquely tailored to her. Despite gentle pleas for understanding, the man clung tenaciously to the echoes of his past, repeating gestures and traditions designed for his first love.

The stark contrast between his professions of love and the unchanged traditions left his second wife wounded and questioning. The pain intensified as the man, well-intentioned but misguided, failed to recognize the stark difference between honoring her and just holding on to the traditions of the love he once knew.

This thought-provoking parable serves as a mirror reflecting the way we often treat our relationship with God, especially when it comes to celebrating holidays. Steeped in long-held traditions, some stemming from ancient pagan practices, we, too, risk offering God a bouquet of weeds while insisting they are roses.

The parallel to our spiritual journey is striking. Are we, like the widower, willing to shed the comfort of familiar traditions and embrace God’s desires as communicated in the scriptures? Despite the discomfort and familial challenges, the heart of the matter lies in whether we choose man-made traditions over God’s prescribed path.

Diving deeper, the revelation unfolds that many commonly cherished celebrations—Christmas trees, wreaths, mistletoe, and even the December 25 date—are rooted in pagan worship practices. The Church, unable to quell these practices, eventually embraced them, akin to giving a weed the name of a rose.

The call is clear—to love God deeply is to align our lives with His desires, not clinging to traditions offensive to Him. The scriptures lay out the path, highlighting God’s Moedim (appointed times) or holy days for celebration, contrasting with the man-made festivals we’ve come to accept.

Acknowledging this truth is a challenging emotional journey. Admitting the need for change amidst familial resistance is a test of our devotion to Christ above all. As Jesus forewarned, following Him may stir discord even within our households, yet true discipleship requires prioritizing Christ over all familial bonds.

May this narrative stir a courageous introspection, prompting a prayerful pursuit of God’s kingdom above the familiar and cultural traditions. As the challenge resounds, may our hearts find the courage to trust in God’s ways over those of men, embracing the transformative journey toward a life more pleasing to Him.

If you truly love God, and submit your life to God… take the time to learn more about what He wants and not just stick to traditions of men that are offensive to Him. You can easily study online even using Christian encyclopedia’s like Zondervan or other encyclopedias. The origins are not secret, only that it has been accepted to celebrate God in ways that were developed by pagans for their gods. 119Ministries.com has put together an effective documentary in video form you can watch (The Christmas Question). They have previous teachings available for free you may consider as well (Sunburned – Part 1 and Sunburned – Part 2).

The LORD has also given us instructions on what holy days to celebrate to point to Him and our relationship with Him. They are called the Moedim and are outlined in Leviticus 23 and other places throughout the Bible.

You can find scripture where Jesus participated in the Moedim. You will never find record of Jesus celebrating Christmas and Easter (or almost anything we celebrate commonly today) in the Biblical record.

Passover and Easter are very different. See what they focus on. With God’s celebrations, the focus is always on Him and not gifts or food or simply ourselves. To learn more, scroll through and read from our Traditions/ Holidays category of teachings.

I recognize that this is an emotional subject for many and admitting that we should change is very hard. Even if we accept it and change our behavior, there will be much difficulty among family. This is to be expected when we stand for Christ above all others. Jesus said so himself in Matthew 10:23-39.

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36     Your enemies will be right in your own household!’[l]

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

We each must decide whether or not we submit to God fully or hold tightly to the traditions of man. By the way… study of the new testament clearly shows that clutching to the traditions of man was the way of the Pharisees and Sadducees, not the way of Jesus.

God wants his people to be holy (set apart for God’s use) and righteous (living according to God’s commands rather than the world’s). He wants us to put Him first, above everything else.

Challenge yourself to objectively evaluate your traditions and seek first the kingdom of God. Do not dismiss this quickly but rather prayerfully seek God to show you the truth of His word and how to apply it in your life. Ask yourself about any tradition you claim to observe to honor God, if you were not influenced by family or cultural traditions would you naturally come up with this tradition by studying the Bible? If not, that can be a good indicator.

Pray that God would give you courage and boldness to pursue him with how you live. My family and I have been on this journey, we remain on this journey still today. It is difficult at times, but well worth pursuing to grow closer to Him and be more pleasing to Him. Trust in His ways over those of men.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Holy / Set Apart, Traditions / Holidays

Are Christmas Trees in the Bible?

In the enchanting glow of Christmas traditions that colored my childhood, this season held a special place in my heart. Yet, as adulthood unfolded, the Lord gently nudged me to unravel the origins of these cherished traditions, turning what was once my favorite time of the year into a journey of profound introspection.

One tradition that captivates families during this season is the joyous act of bringing a Christmas tree into the home—a tradition I enthusiastically partook in for decades. While undeniably fun, the pursuit of “fun” is not the moral compass by which we determine right from wrong. Sin may cloak itself in enjoyment, but its fleeting happiness pales in comparison to the profound joy found in a genuine relationship with our Heavenly Father.

As believers, we anchor our understanding of good and bad in God’s standards, illuminated through the pages of the Bible. Regardless of one’s perspective on its divine inspiration, the Bible remains the most accurate record of God’s relationship with His people and His guidelines for righteous living.

My quest for truth led me to scrutinize whether Christmas trees found a place in the Bible, and to my surprise, a passage in Jeremiah 10:1-4 seemed to allude to them. It cautioned against adopting the practices of non-believers, condemning the cutting of trees for decoration—a striking parallel to our modern Christmas traditions.

Some will argue this is focused only on idols, but it seems to apply also to Christmas trees.

Jeremiah 10:1-4 (KJV)

1Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Delving deeper into the roots of Christmas, I discovered that many of its customs have pagan origins. While this revelation might be startling, it underscores the importance of Yahweh’s call for believers to be set apart and holy, avoiding the adoption of worldly practices under the guise of Christianity.

For those intrigued to explore further, additional articles and videos are available, providing a comprehensive understanding of Christmas traditions. I urge you to prayerfully consider these revelations, seeking the courage and discernment to distance ourselves from heathen practices in alignment with God’s teachings.

To learn more:

In conclusion, I invite you to join me in prayer:

Father, grant us the strength to prioritize Your instructions above all else. Instill in us the courage and discernment to detach from traditions rooted in heathen or pagan origins, which stand contrary to Your teachings. May an awakening sweep through Your people worldwide, turning them away from worldly ways and toward Your divine path. Amen.

Shalom

John

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Traditions / Holidays, Wise

Unwrapping the Truth: Does Celebrating Christmas Please God?

Ever wondered about the true history and implications of Christmas in the eyes of Yahweh?

It’s time to explore. Join us in unraveling the Christmas Question—a thought-provoking documentary by 119 Ministries.

Most spend at least a month focused on Christmas every year… invest 1-1/2 hours in this documentary and gain insights that might reshape your perspective on the holiday that is cherished so widely. The real gift lies in understanding, and this documentary is your key.

Don’t just celebrate Christmas because you always have; understand if it’s truly pleasing to God.

The Christmas Question | 119 Ministries (link)

The Christmas Question documentary unravels the history of the Christmas holiday and explores the implications for believers today.  Our desire is to present historical information about the Christmas holiday and its traditions through interviewing a collection of historians, scholars, academics and theologians. The purpose behind this documentary is not intended to be something that causes division nor condemnation.

Instead, we seek to help believers determine if celebrating Christmas is a sin and how Scripture indicates the Father feels about the various Christmas rites and origins. We ask an important question. If there is a chance that any part of Christmas would offend the Father, then should we still do it?

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Provider, Thankfulness, Traditions / Holidays

Give Thanks to the LORD for He Is Good (Thanksgiving Table Devotional)

We should always seek to be thankful to the Lord for all He provides, but Thanksgiving is a great time to remind ourselves to come together as a family and as a community, and as a nation to give thanks together to our Lord,  YHWH. For those who follow Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus), we always have that most important gift of salvation through grace by faith for which to be thankful… no matter what else may be going on in our lives.

I have found it is very easy to lose focus on the Lord as we get busy with our holiday traditions and celebrations… even Thanksgiving. It seems the Lord dropped a surprise in my shopping bag on trip to the store several years ago.  I want to share it with you. Lifeway Christian store put together a small booklet of scriptures into a “Thanksgiving Table Devotional”. We have it at our table and we read and share as we come together to eat our meals.

Psalm 106:1

1Praise the LORD!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:17

17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Philippians 4:6

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 9:1-2

1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.

      2I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

As we read these scriptures together we take time to go around the table and ask about examples of things that are specific to us for which we are grateful to our Father who provides. This is not particularly unique, but it sure is easy to overlook. I appreciate the Lord putting these scriptures where I would find them as I was looking for ways to make Thanksgiving more meaningful and focused on Him for my family. Praise the Lord He cares for each of us as His children!

What will you make the focus of this Thanksgiving season? Football, shopping, food, fellowship… or our Creator and Father and the right attitude towards Him? My suggestion is to focus on our Father with a healthy side of family fellowship.

Take some time to pray right now and give Him thanks in your own words. Ask Him to help you have wisdom on how to approach your family traditions such as those around Thanksgiving.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Holy / Set Apart, Purposeful / Intentional, Satan, Traditions / Holidays, Wickedness / Evil, Worldliness

Should a Follower of Christ Celebrate Halloween?

Far too often we just go along with whatever “everyone else” is doing when the holidays are concerned. We can always rationalize why many of the common “holidays” such as Halloween “are harmless” or even “an opportunity to participate so as to lead others to Christ”. However, never in scripture does God encourage us to in any way imitate the pagan celebrations of others as a way of “getting along with” or “blending in with” or even witnessing to non-believers. We are instead called to be set apart from pagan traditions and worship of false gods in every way. We are to do things only in God’s way. Being different is an important part of being a light to draw people to Christ. If those who follow Christ blend in with everyone else, why should any non-believers accept Christ and change their lives.

The following article is a good summary of Halloween, so I choose not to write my own. I recommend you pray for God to give you an open mind and test celebration of Halloween, not against what your church does or your family has done for generations, but against the word of God.

A few easy questions to ask yourself…  “Does celebrating this holiday honor God and point others to Him? Could it actually confuse others as to what Christ calls us to do and how He calls us to act? If I ignore traditions of men for a moment and test the holiday (and how it is celebrated) against scripture, is there any way I would ever reasonably conclude I should celebrate this based on the Bible itself?” Perhaps one final question, “If I am not sure it is good and honoring to God, should I skip it or celebrate it anyway?”

ChristianAnswers.net – Should Christians participate in Halloween?

The October 31st holiday that we today know as Halloween has strong roots in paganism and is closely connected with worship of the Enemy of this world, Satan. It is a holiday that generally glorifies the dark things of this world, rather than the light of Jesus Christ, The Truth.

Have you noticed how costumes and masks are getting generally more bloody, gory, and depraved each year? Unfortunately, the gruesome and grotesque and the occult are increasingly glorified in American society, not only on Halloween, but throughout the year in frequent horror movies and television programs.

My family does not celebrate it or participate in it. We do not believe that our children are “missing out,” and neither do they. Other days are used for costumes and parties. Happily, all of our children have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. We have found that Halloween provides an excellent time to remind our children that, as Christians, we are different, and not of this world (Heb. 11:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:11).

What about church “Harvest Festivals” held on October 31? Although we understand the rational and good intentions behind them, we don’t think they are the best approach. Our family tends to agree with the author of an article called “Are ‘Harvest Parties’ for Christians?” (written by a self-avowed former witch and now active Christian). Harvest parties on October 31 tend to assume that “our children need something to take the place of Halloween, since they won’t be participating in the secular and pagan celebrations. It suggests our kids are missing out on something. And indeed they are, if we allow them to spend Halloween in celebration.” There are better things to do on Halloween than partying.

Also, we need to teach our children that “the fight isn’t against occultists, non-Christians, Christians who feel differently than we about Halloween, or institutions that promote Halloween, but” “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV).

Click the following link to read the full article: ChristianAnswers.net – Should Christians participate in Halloween?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead Your people away from worldly celebrations that draw them in and lead them to embrace Your celebrations and Your ways. Help us to be set apart from the world, not blend in. Help give courage to those who struggle to break away due to family and emotional attachments to worldly holidays and celebrations. Help us to choose You first! Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Teachable, Thankfulness, Traditions / Holidays

Embracing Sukkot by Increasing Our Understanding

Once again, I am focused on Yahweh’s appointed time of Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles. It is a fun celebration that reminds us how God led His people out of bondage in Egypt and looks forward to the return of our King, Yeshua, when He will dwell among us again.

Today I am highlighting two resources for you to consider that can help to broaden your understanding of Sukkot and how to celebrate it. I encourage you to explore both and test them against scripture. Both present a view of this appointed time in the context of scripture and our Messiah. You do not have to agree with everything they say and do in order to learn from the material which is well laid out and I find very helpful.

119Ministries.com will provide a video to watch. SetApartPeople provides personal insight into their journey celebrating this appointed time. You can refresh the search to get more recent articles on their page by searching “Sukkot”.

I include a few additional links below. However, be sure to validate everything you read against the truth of scripture. As a last encouragement, note that Yeshua even set an example by celebrating the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, despite people seeking to kill Him (John 7). I encourage you to click the link and read all of John 7.

Have fun with it. This is a celebration! Our Messiah returns! Consider even some easy online searches for songs or music videos associated with Sukkot. We have found some that are very cheerful and fun and some that are more spiritually focused and meaningful. Do not be discouraged from these resources because Sukkot is celebrated by Jews. It can be observed by anyone who rejoices in our Creator and His appointed times. With Christ, we have even more reason to celebrate these appointed times.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your appointed times. Help open the eyes of Your followers everywhere to Your celebrations and their purpose in drawing us closer to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Peace / Rest, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Traditions / Holidays

Dive Into Scripture to Embrace the Meaning of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

Rather than write another article today, I encourage you to review the following links from TheMoedim.com. There is much useful information. Remember to test everything. I may not agree with every detail, but pay particular attention to the scripture itself. It is very well laid out. Also, remember to keep separate in your mind scripture from traditions. Both may have value, but traditions should point back to scripture and not be taken with the same importance as scripture.

I encourage you to do some more personal study on this celebration. I include a few links below. However, be sure to validate everything you read against the truth of scripture. As a last encouragement, note that Yeshua even set an example by celebrating the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, despite people seeking to kill Him (John 7). I encourage you to click the link and read all of John 7.

Have fun with it. This is a celebration! Our Messiah returns! Consider even some easy online searches for songs or music videos associated with Sukkot. We have found some that are very cheerful and fun and some that are more spiritually focused and meaningful. Do not be discouraged from these resources because Jews celebrate Sukkot. It can be celebrated by anyone who rejoices in our Creator and His appointed times. With Christ, we have even more reason to celebrate these appointed times!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your appointed times. Help open the eyes of Your followers everywhere to Your celebrations and their purpose in drawing us closer to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Peace / Rest, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Celebrate Sukkot (Tabernacles) – Dwelling in His Presence

Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles (also Booths), is at first strange to those of us growing up in a Christian church or non-Jewish culture because so much of the Old Testament is not taught or is not taught as relevant anymore. As the Lord has revealed more to me in my study and prayer it has become quite a meaningful celebration for my family. My children look forward to it every year, sometimes months in advance. The celebration is coming up soon, so I encourage you to take some time to learn more and consider participating with your family, or even by yourself.

In a quick summary, the festival is about celebrating dwelling in the presence of our God. It looks back on the past as He dwelt with His people as they left Egypt for the Promised Land and also looks forward to when Yeshua returns to dwell among us at the second coming of our Lord. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that!

From a practical perspective, it also reminds me to be thankful and humble, not to take for granted the nice home and secure lifestyle my family is blessed with.  I am reminded that He provides! He leads me, even if it seems like I am in hard times, like the 40 years in the wilderness.

Leviticus 23:37-44

    37‘These are the appointed times of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the LORD—burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each day’s matter on its own day— 38besides those of the sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts and besides all your votive and freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.

      39‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. 40‘Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41‘You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42‘You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’” 44So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the LORD.

We have not taken to live in booths in the wilderness as yet for this celebration, but we do set aside the Sabbath days of rest and pitch the tent to go camping. We started by camping in our own family room in a tent and have now moved outside on our property.  It creates excitement for the kids and questions about why and what we are celebrating and it all points back to our Father who provides for us and a reminder that Yeshua will return and dwell among us.

Consider taking steps to start celebrating God’s holy days. They consistently focus on our relationship with Him rather than worldly things like so many man-made holidays.  Take small steps at first to start observing and grow from there. Don’t be intimidated so that you put it off.

Invest time for personal study of this celebration. I include a few links below. Take a link a day and explore it over the next few days.  Validate everything you read against the truth of scripture. It is helpful to distinguish tradition from scripture.

As a last encouragement, take note that Yeshua even set an example by going to celebrate the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, despite people seeking to kill Him (John 7). I encourage you to click the link and read all of John 7.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your appointed times. Help open the eyes of Your followers everywhere to Your celebrations and their purpose in drawing us closer to You. Thank You for the joyful reminder each year that Yeshua is going to return to dwell among us! Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Yom Kippur – Deeper Reflection Through Scriptures

I have been sharing my observance of Yom Kippur as a follower of Christ with a close friend and she highlighted an important aspect of Yom Kippur that may get overlooked by some. It is a day of repentance and atonement. It is a day of fasting. We are also instructed to humble ourselves before the LORD. This is more than just observing some traditional rules like not wearing shoes with leather soles or putting on perfume. It is truly about our heart and our attitude before our Creator.

She shared some scripture the LORD had led her to as she has been observing with her family and I wanted to share it more broadly.

Each year as I observe this solemn holy day, I allow myself to continue to grow and change the approach for my family. There is so much good Biblical content to help lead us in prayer, humility and reconciliation with YHWH that I am embracing more each year the 10 days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur to pray and reflect on this subject with my family. These days are commonly referred to as the Days of Awe. I encourage you to study at least some of the scriptures below as you seek to humble yourself before the LORD.

Do keep in mind as you humble yourself before God, that if you are in Yeshua, you have been forgiven. We still want to be humble and repent, but we can also be thankful that God has already made a way for us to be forgiven.

Daniel 9:4-19 (Daniel)

4I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6“Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.

      7“Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8“Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9“To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; 10nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11“Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. 12“Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13“As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. 14“Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

      15“And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16“O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17“So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18“O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19“O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

1 Chronicles 16:8-38 (David)

Psalm of Thanksgiving

8Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

      9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.

10Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

11Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually.

12Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,

13O seed of Israel His servant,
Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

14He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

15Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

16The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.

17He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

18Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”

19When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,

20And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,

21He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,

22“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

24Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.

28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.

30Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

32Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD;
For He is coming to judge the earth.

34O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

35Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise.”

36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Hannah)

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

      1Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

      2“There is no one holy like the LORD,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.

3“Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.

4“The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength.

5“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.

6“The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7“The LORD makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.

8“He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
And He set the world on them.

9“He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.

10“Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Luke 1:46-55 (Mary)

The Magnificat

46And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,

      47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.

50“AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

51“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.

53“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54“He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Additional scriptures you may find enriching:

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, You and You alone are God. There are none like You. None can do the works that You do. Yet You love Your people and have made a way for us to be reconciled to You despite our sins. Thank You for Your grace and mercy shown through the death of Christ for our sins! May You be magnified and glorified in my life. Thank You for your continued mercy on me as a sinner submitted to Yeshua. Thank You for Your Spirit and Your word to guide me as a light unto my path. Help me to walk in repentance and seek diligently after Your ways. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Scripture Readings to Enrich Yom Kippur

Yom Teruah signals us with the trumpet blast to remind us that the return of the King is nearing. Yom Kippur is a day to come humbly before God and acknowledge our sins, turning from them. The days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur are often called the Days of Awe. This is a good time to reflect on the goodness of God in His forgiveness of our sins through Yeshua. It is also a good time to prepare ourselves to come humbly before God to reflect on any sins in our lives and repent from them. We can gratefully reflect on the sacrifice of Yeshua who has paid our debt for sin. He died so we have forgiveness of sin. We should take care not to be arrogant in regards to receiving forgiveness as if we earned it or deserved it. We don’t. It is a gift. Be humble and thankful.

First and foremost, remember that if we are in Christ, we have already been forgiven.

1 Pet 2:24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

I found some additional scripture reading suggestions referenced by Hebrew4Christians. We do not read them all on the day of Yom Kippur, but rather read them in preparation over several days. I find this helps, especially for young children, to be able to digest more of the importance of this Moed, or appointed time.

The scriptures are as follows:

I also encourage you to visit the sites linked below and pull in the videos, scripture, or teaching that helps your family better understand Yom Kippur in full context.  It is very helpful to study more about our Creator’s appointed times as we learn to observe them. Remember, however, we are not begging God for forgiveness, but rather humbling ourselves and thanking Him for already forgiving us through Yeshua.

As you study, remember to separate what is Jewish tradition from what is written in the Bible. The study of tradition can be helpful and enriching, but I find it good to know for myself what is scriptural and what is traditional. When getting started, I focus on the scriptural aspects first. The traditional would then be optional as it fits with and helps or supports the scriptural message.

I have provided a few links to help you get started, but you can search on your own, of course.

 

  • JacobsTent.org is a fellowship that meets in Tennessee and live streams events for Moedim and regular Sabbath services weekly. It is more than just a study, but brings you in to be part of a fellowship worshipping and learning together.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.