Category Archives: Father / Yahweh

Father / Yahweh, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

Make God’s Presence the Center of Your Life (Exodus 25-26)

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God desired to dwell in the midst of Israel. Is living in His presence truly at the center of your life, or have other things gradually taken that place?

Key Verse

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” — Exodus 25:8 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 19–24, YHWH brought Israel to Mount Sinai, established His covenant with them, gave them His commandments and further instructions for how His redeemed people were to live, and called Moses farther up the mountain.

Then, in Exodus 25–26, the focus shifted toward the tabernacle. YHWH called for willing contributions and gave Moses detailed instructions for the ark and mercy seat, the table of the bread of the Presence, the golden lampstand, the curtains and coverings, the supporting structure, and finally the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

These details all serve a larger purpose. The God who rescued Israel from bondage did not intend merely to give them laws from a distance. He desired to dwell among them. At the same time, the tabernacle taught Israel that having YHWH in their midst required them to recognize His holiness and approach Him according to the way He provided.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 25-26

Reflection on Exodus 25–26:

The most important statement in these two chapters comes near the beginning: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” Before we consider the gold, curtains, furniture, measurements, or construction details, we need to understand that purpose. The greatest gift Israel was receiving was not an impressive sanctuary. It was the presence of YHWH among them.

That continues the story Exodus has been telling from the beginning. God heard Israel’s cries in Egypt, remembered His covenant, revealed His name to Moses, demonstrated His power through the plagues, redeemed Israel through the Passover, brought them through the sea, provided for them in the wilderness, and brought them to Himself at Sinai. Redemption was never merely about getting Israel out of Egypt. YHWH was bringing a people into relationship with Himself.

The tabernacle made that relationship visible in the center of Israel’s community.

Each part we have studied contributes something to that larger picture. The people willingly brought materials God had already placed in their hands. The ark contained the testimony of God’s covenant instruction. Above it was the mercy seat, reminding us that the holy God who establishes His standard also provides a way for sinful people to approach Him. The table continually held the bread of the Presence, while the lampstand provided light within the sanctuary. The curtains, coverings, frames, bases, and crossbars demonstrate that even details which might appear unimportant were constructed according to God’s revealed pattern.

Again and again YHWH told Moses what to build and how to build it. Exodus 25:40 summarizes the principle: “See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.” Moses was not being invited to decide which instructions mattered and which could be changed according to personal preference.

That remains an important lesson for us. We should not add human requirements and pretend God commanded them. But neither should we create an assumption of freedom where God has established restrictions. Where He has clearly spoken, our responsibility is not to redefine His instruction according to what our culture, traditions, or preferences find more acceptable. It is to trust Him enough to obey.

Then Exodus 26 ends with the veil.

That veil introduces an important tension into everything we have just studied. YHWH wanted to dwell among His people, yet the people could not simply walk into the Most Holy Place. God’s presence was near, but access remained restricted because His holiness could not be treated casually and sin could not simply be ignored.

This helps us appreciate the larger biblical story. When Yeshua died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). Hebrews later explains that through Yeshua’s blood we have confidence to draw near to God by the way He has provided (Hebrews 10:19–22).

The torn veil does not mean God’s holiness ceased to matter. It means God dealt with the problem that prevented us from drawing near.

That brings the message of these chapters directly into our lives. God did not redeem us merely so that we could receive His blessings while continuing to build life around ourselves. He calls us into relationship with Him. His presence should affect our priorities, our worship, our obedience, our use of what He has entrusted to us, and even the parts of our lives that no one else sees.

We can easily become more interested in what God can give us than in God Himself. The tabernacle redirects our attention. The gold was valuable. The craftsmanship was beautiful. The furnishings were significant. But none of those things was the greatest treasure inside Israel’s camp.

YHWH was.

The same should be true for us. The greatest blessing God gives His people is ultimately not prosperity, comfort, success, or even deliverance from difficulty. It is the privilege of knowing Him, drawing near to Him, and living faithfully in His presence.

Application

  • Make your relationship with YHWH central rather than allowing Him to become one part of a life built primarily around other priorities.
  • Value God’s presence more than the blessings, provision, or opportunities He gives you.
  • Follow what God has actually revealed, neither adding human requirements nor creating freedom to disregard boundaries He has established.
  • Draw near to God through Yeshua with gratitude and reverence, remembering that the access we enjoy was provided at tremendous cost.
  • Let faithfulness extend into the unseen details of your life, not merely the portions of your faith that others can observe.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that Your desire has always been more than simply rescuing Your people from trouble. You desire relationship with us and have provided the way for us to draw near to You. Help me make Your presence the center of my life rather than becoming more interested in Your blessings than in You. Teach me to take Your holiness and Your instructions seriously, obeying what You have revealed without adding to it or taking away from it. Thank You for Yeshua and for the access to You that His sacrifice has provided. May the visible and unseen parts of my life reflect that knowing You is my greatest treasure. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

Father / Yahweh, Holy, Holy / Set Apart, Humility, Seeking God

Don’t Take God for Granted (Exodus 26:31–37)

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Do we recognize what an extraordinary privilege it is to draw near to YHWH, or has access to Him become so familiar that we approach Him casually?

Key Verse

“The veil shall serve for you as a partition between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.” — Exodus 26:33 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 25, YHWH explained that Israel was to build a sanctuary so that He could dwell among them. He gave Moses instructions for the Ark of the Covenant and mercy seat, the table of the bread of the Presence, and the golden lampstand.

In Exodus 26:1–30, God described the curtains, coverings, frames, bases, and crossbars that would form and support the tabernacle. Now, in Exodus 26:31–37, He completes the chapter by describing two additional curtains. A screen marked the entrance into the tabernacle, while a special veil inside separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Behind that veil would stand the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat. YHWH intended to dwell among Israel, but His presence remained holy, and access to Him was restricted.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 26:31–37

The Veil and Screen

      31“You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 32“You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver. 33“You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies. 34“You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies. 35“You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

      36“You shall make a screen for the doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver. 37“You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold, their hooks also being of gold; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

Reflection on Exodus 26:31–37:

The veil was beautiful. It was made from blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Yet its primary purpose was not decoration. Verse 33 tells us plainly that it divided “the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.”

That separation communicated something Israel needed to understand about YHWH. The God who had rescued them from Egypt genuinely desired to dwell among them, but His desire for relationship did not make His holiness less important. Sinful people could not simply walk into His presence whenever and however they chose.

Later, Leviticus would explain just how restricted access beyond this veil was. The high priest could enter the Most Holy Place only at the appointed time and only according to God’s instructions, bringing sacrificial blood for atonement. The veil therefore stood as a continuing reminder that something still separated sinful humanity from unrestricted access to a holy God.

This is part of what makes the death of Yeshua so remarkable. Matthew records that when Yeshua died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). What had stood for generations as a barrier before the Most Holy Place was torn apart, and significantly, Scripture describes it as being torn from the top downward.

Hebrews helps us understand the significance. Because of Yeshua’s sacrifice, believers have confidence to enter the holy place “by the blood of Jesus,” through the new and living way He provided (Hebrews 10:19–22). The access that we now enjoy was not created by God simply deciding that holiness and sin no longer mattered. It was made possible at tremendous cost through Yeshua.

That distinction is important. Grace does not mean God lowered His standard until sinful humanity could comfortably approach Him. God provided atonement so that we could be reconciled to Him.

The veil should therefore change how we think about prayer and our relationship with God. We can speak to YHWH anywhere. We do not need to travel to a physical sanctuary or wait for a priest to enter God’s presence on our behalf. Because that access is freely available to us, however, we can begin treating it as though it were ordinary.

Imagine an Israelite standing outside the tabernacle looking toward a place he could never enter. Even the priests serving in the Holy Place could not simply walk through the veil. Yet through Yeshua, we are invited to “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).

That should produce confidence, but it should also produce reverence.

There is also an important balance here with a theme we have repeatedly encountered in Exodus. We do not approach God according to whatever way seems meaningful to us. YHWH established the tabernacle, the veil, the priesthood, and the sacrifices according to His instruction. Ultimately, He provided Yeshua as the way through which we are reconciled to Him. Access is God’s gift, provided God’s way.

We should therefore neither stay far away as though Yeshua had not opened the way, nor approach casually as though opening that way cost nothing.

The veil reminds us what separation from God’s presence looked like. Its tearing reminds us what Yeshua accomplished.

Our response should be to draw near—gratefully, confidently, and reverently.

Application

  • Draw near to YHWH confidently through Yeshua rather than living as though you must somehow make yourself worthy enough to approach Him.
  • Refuse to treat prayer and access to God’s presence casually; remember the tremendous cost through which that access was provided.
  • Take God’s holiness and His instructions seriously rather than assuming grace gives us freedom to approach Him on whatever terms we choose.
  • When you think about the torn veil, let it deepen both your gratitude for Yeshua’s sacrifice and your desire to spend time with God.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for desiring to dwell among Your people and for providing the way for us to draw near to You. Help me understand what an extraordinary privilege it is to come before You in prayer and relationship. Keep me from taking that access for granted or treating Your holiness casually. Thank You for Yeshua, whose sacrifice opened the way that I could never open for myself. Teach me to draw near with confidence, gratitude, obedience, and reverence, valuing the relationship with You that came at such great cost. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

All Powerful / King of All, Father / Yahweh, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Protector / Deliverer, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Obedience: The Root or the Fruit? (Exodus 20:1-2)

Do you obey God in order to earn His love, or because you have already experienced it?

Key Verse:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” — Exodus 20:2 (NASB)

Background Context:

Three months after leaving Egypt, Israel stood at Mount Sinai. God had rescued them from slavery through the Passover lamb, led them safely through the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven, and faithfully cared for them in the wilderness. Now He was about to establish His covenant with His people by giving them the Ten Commandments.

Before speaking a single command, however, God reminded Israel who He is and what He had already done for them. His relationship with His people was founded on His grace before it was expressed through His commandments.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 20:1-2

The Ten Commandments

      1Then God spoke all these words, saying,

      2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Reflection on Exodus 20:1–2:

It is easy to think of the Ten Commandments as beginning with a list of rules. In reality, they begin with a relationship. Before God says, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” He first declares, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” The God who gives the commandments is first introduced as the God who rescues.

That order is incredibly important. Israel did not earn their deliverance by perfectly keeping God’s law. They were still slaves when He acted on their behalf. He heard their cries, judged Egypt, spared them through the blood of the Passover lamb, and brought them safely through the sea. Only after redeeming them did He call them to live as His covenant people. Their obedience was meant to be the response to God’s grace, not the means of obtaining it.

This pattern continues throughout Scripture and reaches its fulfillment in Yeshua. We are not saved because we obey God’s commands well enough to deserve His favor. We are saved by His grace through faith in the Messiah, who became our Passover Lamb. Having been redeemed, we are then called to walk in obedience—not to earn God’s love, but because we have already received it. As Yeshua said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Love produces obedience; obedience does not produce God’s love.

Understanding this order protects us from two dangerous errors. The first is legalism, which treats obedience as a way to earn God’s acceptance. The second is lawlessness, which assumes that grace makes obedience unnecessary. Neither reflects God’s heart. His grace calls us into a relationship, and within that relationship He teaches us how to live. His commandments are not chains meant to enslave us but loving instructions from a Father who knows what leads to life.

The opening words of the Ten Commandments also remind us that obedience begins with remembering. God wanted Israel never to forget that they had once been slaves. Every command that followed was rooted in the identity He had already given them. They were no longer Pharaoh’s people—they belonged to the Lord. In the same way, our identity as followers of Messiah shapes the way we live. We obey not because we are trying to become God’s children, but because, through His grace, we already are.

As we begin studying the Ten Commandments, it is worth remembering that they reveal more than a moral code. They reveal the character of the God who gave them. The One who rescued Israel from Egypt is holy, faithful, just, and loving. His commands flow from His character and are given for the good of His people. Every command that follows should therefore be read in light of the gracious introduction that comes first: “I am the Lord your God… who brought you out of the house of slavery.”

Application:

  • Thank God that His grace always comes before your obedience.
  • Let your obedience flow from love and gratitude rather than fear or obligation.
  • Remember often what God has redeemed you from and how faithfully He has led you.
  • Read God’s commandments as the loving instruction of a faithful Father.
  • Ask the Lord to shape your heart so that obedience becomes a joyful response to His grace.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing Yourself as the God who rescues before You command. Thank You for delivering Israel from Egypt and for delivering me from sin through Yeshua, my Passover Lamb. Help me never to treat obedience as a way to earn Your love, but as a joyful response to the grace You have already shown me. Teach me to delight in Your ways and to remember each day that I belong to You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

Father / Yahweh, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Jesus Christ / Yeshua

Yahweh Reveals Himself Through the Holy Trinity

Many struggle to fully understand how one God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some even fall away from true faith over their lack of understanding in this issue, or hesitate to follow Yeshua because of it. Others may simply dismiss it. Blessed are those who accept it on faith and those who study God’s word to gain a clearer understanding of it. Whatever your understanding, scripture is clear… Yahweh reveals Himself to us in three key relationships… that of Yahweh the Father, Yeshua the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:16-18 16After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Matthew 28:18-19 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Take note of the importance of the Holy Trinity by its explicit mention by God in both the beginning of Jesus’ public earthly ministry at baptism and the end after He has died and been raised from the dead. The fact that God finds it important to express Himself to us in this way is undeniable. He does not shy away from it. It is front and center and important.

We could do well to conduct a detailed Bible study on each aspect of the Trinity, and I encourage you to do so as you read through the Bible and study. I encourage you also to prayerfully ask God to reveal Himself clearly to you. For today’s devotion, I will summarize at a high level.

Let me first begin with a simple example that may help remove some of the mystery, and then we will explore Biblical insights into the persons of the Trinity through which God reveals Himself to His people.

Try not to get hung up on someone revealing themselves through three persons. It seems impossible at first, but consider even God’s humble people. I am a servant of God. So too am I a husband and a father. Further, I am a neighbor and a citizen of a city and a nation. I am an employee and also a leader. I am a son and a brother. I could go on. I am one person, but through many different roles, I reveal myself in different relationships with people I meet. I am the same person, yet the way I act towards my children is different in some ways from the way I act towards my employer. Each relationship is consistent with the person being revealed, but each may show a different aspect or part of that person. So it is likewise with God.

Also, allow for the fact that there may be nothing else exactly like it we can relate to. God is supernatural. Thy physical may help us understand Him, but may not be a perfect match.

God the Father, Yahweh

God the Father is the Creator, the Alpha and Omega… beginning and the end, He is our Father, our Provider, our Protector. He is sovereign. Respect and honor who God is. Take a few moments and be still before God. Contemplate the character of God:

  • The Great I Am
  • Creator of All
  • All-Knowing (omniscient)
  • All-Powerful (omnipotent)
  • Present In All Places At All Times (omnipresent)
  • The Beginning and the End (Alpha and Omega)

God’s name is to be separated from the world. To do this, we must separate from the world and focus on God. Focus on the Old Testament names for God.

God the Son, Yeshua

The word of God became flesh in the person of Yeshua and dwelt among us. He showed us how to live in relationship with God the Father and our fellow man. He suffered and died and was raised from the dead so our wrongs could be forgiven.

John 1:1-5 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:14-18 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 14:6-11 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

God The Holy Spirit, Ruach Chodesh

The Holy Spirit is a helper that God sends for each of us who believe in Him through the person of Jesus Christ and submit our lives to Him. The Spirit represents God living inside of each believer to help comfort, counsel, teach, and guide us.

John 14:16-26 16“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

25“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Embrace God’s word and allow God to more fully reveal Himself to you through each of these relationships He has chosen… God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to more fully understand the mystery of how you reveal yourself, three persons in one. You are one God, but You reveal Yourself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let me not reject the truth because I do not fully understand it, but rather help me to accept Your word and continue to grow in understanding. Help me not to redefine Your word to fit my understanding, but rather redefine my understanding based on Your word.  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.

Father / Yahweh, Parenting, Traditions / Holidays

Yahweh Is A Good Father: Let Us Honor Him

As we celebrate Father’s Day, it is good to focus on our Creator and Father in addition to celebrating good earthly fathers. Take time to prayerfully and thoughtfully reflect on who He is and what He has already done for You.

Respect and honor who God is. Take a few moments to be still before God. Contemplate the character of God:

  • The Great I Am
  • Creator of All
  • All-Knowing (omniscient)
  • All-Powerful (omnipotent)
  • Present In All Places at All Times (omnipresent)
  • Unchanging (immutable)
  • Eternal (without beginning or end)
  • Incapable of Making a Mistake (flawless)
  • Infinite (without limit or boundaries)
  • Holy (worthy of devotion as one perfect in goodness)
  • Just (behaving according to what is morally right and fair)
  • The Beginning and the End (Alpha and Omega)

In Ephesians  1:18-19 Paul prays, “…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

Reflect on the greatness of God’s power toward you as God the Father. He is Father, Provider, Shelter, and Protector.

Honor and glorify His name. God’s name is to be separated from the world. To do this, we must separate from the world and focus on God. Focus on the Biblical names for God.

Focus on God’s character, praise Him, and be thankful. His character should be reflected in our character.

  • Compassionate
  • Gracious
  • Humble
  • Pure (in body and mind)
  • Merciful
  • Giving (in time and resources)
  • Slow to anger / Patient
  • Filled with love
  • Truthful
  • Forgiving
  • Kind
  • Faithful
  • Wise
  • Servant’s heart
  • Disciplined (self-control)
  • Joyful
  • Holy (set apart from sin; set apart for God’s purpose)
  • Just (e.g., justice)

Consider picking one or more of God’s characteristics, starting with the one you understand the least, and study its meaning, including a study of application in scriptures. This activity will renew your mind in that area and, in turn, transform your character to be more like God and our Lord Jesus Christ. After completing this, consider doing the other character traits over time, perhaps one a week.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for being such a wonderful Father. Thank you for caring for me even when I may not understand why I experience certain things that are difficult. You are worthy of praise. You are the model for the father I should strive to be. Please help me (and/or pray for fathers in your life here) to become more like You. Amen. 

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

John Golda

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.

Children, Father / Yahweh, Parenting, Traditions / Holidays

Guided by YHWH: Embodying the Qualities of a Good Father

Good fathers should pursue Christ and be spiritual leaders in their families. They should put YHWH first, their wife next, and then the children in their priority list, and then actually live their lives according to that standard. YHWH has said much about what it means to be a good father. It need not be a mystery.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Psalm 103:13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Luke 11:11-12 “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

Joshua 24:14-15 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Perhaps some scripture does not explicitly call out “fathers”, but as in Joshua 24:14-15, he demonstrates the role of a good father as a strong leader for his family committed to serving YHWH even if others refuse to do so. Psalm 127:3-5 shows a good father feels blessed to have received the gift of children.

There are many more such scriptures. I encourage you to do an internet search for “Bible scriptures about good fathers” and invest time to dive deeper. In fact, YHWH gives us the metaphor to think of Him like a Father, and He is perfect. Thus, we can learn much about being a good father from studying how He relates to His people.

Good fathers are not perfect… There is only one perfect Father. On behalf of all those fathers out there who are trying to lead, protect, and provide for their families, we appreciate your grace and forgiveness when we get it wrong, and we welcome your prayers and encouragement on our behalf so we may become better and better at what YHWH has called us to be… fathers.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for the righteous fathers who strive to lead their families in Your ways. Please help and encourage fathers to actively lead and love their families. Help fathers reflect Your character traits and be a light to others who do not know You and a godly example to their children. Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

Faithful, Father / Yahweh, His Timing Not Ours, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively, Merciful, Prophecy, Revelation, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

When God Responds to Prayer (Revelation 8:1-5)

Have you ever wondered if your prayers are truly heard by God?

Key Verse:
“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” —Revelation 8:4 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 6–7, the seals are opened, revealing judgment on the earth and raising the question: who can stand? Chapter 7 answers by showing that God secures His people even in the midst of tribulation.

Now in Revelation 8:1–5, the seventh seal is opened—but instead of immediate action, there is silence in heaven. This moment prepares us for what comes next and reveals something profound about how God works.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 8

The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets

      1When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

      3Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Reflection on Revelation 8:1–5:
When the seventh seal is opened, heaven becomes silent for about half an hour.

This is striking.

After chapters filled with worship, proclamation, and movement, everything stops. The silence is not empty—it is full of anticipation, reverence, and significance. It signals that something weighty is about to occur.

But before judgment continues, we are shown something unexpected.

An angel stands at the altar with a golden censer. Incense is given to him, and it is combined with the prayers of the saints and offered before God.

This is a powerful image.

The prayers of God’s people are not ignored. They are not lost. They rise before Him, presented with value and significance. What may feel small or unnoticed on earth is seen clearly in heaven.

This connects back to the earlier cry of the martyrs in Revelation 6: “How long, O Lord?”

Here we see that God has heard.

The prayers of the saints are part of what leads into what happens next.

The angel then takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar, and throws it to the earth. This results in thunder, lightning, and an earthquake.

This moment reveals something profound:

God’s judgment is not disconnected from His people—it is, in part, a response to their prayers.

This challenges how we often think about prayer.

We may think of prayer as personal or small, something that affects only our immediate circumstances. But Scripture shows that prayer is part of God’s greater work. It is woven into His purposes and His timing.

The silence, the offering of prayers, and the response all happen before the next wave of judgment begins.

This shows that God is not impulsive.

He is deliberate.
He is attentive.
He is just.

He listens before He acts.

For us, this is both encouraging and sobering.

Encouraging, because our prayers matter. God hears them, values them, and responds in His time.

Sobering, because God’s response is not always immediate, and it is not always what we expect. His answers are aligned with His will, His justice, and His greater plan.

This passage reminds us that even when it feels like heaven is silent, it is not inactive.

God is listening.

And He will respond.

Application:

  • Be encouraged that your prayers are heard and valued by God.
  • Continue to pray faithfully, even when you do not see immediate answers.
  • Trust that God’s timing is intentional and aligned with His purposes.
  • Recognize that prayer is part of God’s larger plan, not separate from it.
  • Approach God with reverence, knowing He is both attentive and just.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You that You hear my prayers and that they matter to You. Help me to remain faithful in prayer, even when I do not see immediate answers. Teach me to trust in Your timing and Your purposes. Remind me that You are always at work, even when it feels quiet. Strengthen my faith to continue seeking You with a sincere heart. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

Faith / Trusting God, Father / Yahweh, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Obeying God, Salvation, Truth

Faith That Overcomes the World (1 John 5:1-12)

What does it truly mean to overcome the world — is it power, influence, success, or something far deeper?

Key Verse:
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.” —1 John 5:4 NASB

Background Context:
As John nears the conclusion of his letter, he draws together several key themes: faith, obedience, love, and assurance. He reminds believers that faith in Jesus as the Messiah is not merely intellectual agreement, but the beginning of a transformed life.

John emphasizes that loving God results in obedience to His commandments, which are not burdensome because they flow from a new nature. He then highlights God’s own testimony concerning His Son — a testimony confirmed by the Spirit, the water, and the blood — affirming that eternal life is found only in Jesus Christ.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

1 John 5:1-12

Overcoming the World

      1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

      5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Reflection on 1 John 5:1–12:
John begins with identity. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. This new birth changes how we relate to God and to others. Love for God naturally produces love for His children, and love for God is expressed through obedience to His commandments.

John is careful to clarify that obedience is not burdensome. This does not mean obedience is effortless, but that it is no longer oppressive. When our hearts are aligned with God, His ways are no longer experienced as chains but as life-giving truth.

John then speaks of victory. Overcoming the world does not mean escaping hardship or dominating culture. It means remaining faithful to God in a world that resists Him. This victory is not achieved by human strength, but through faith — faith rooted in who Jesus is and what He has done.

The testimony John refers to is crucial. Faith is not a blind leap. God Himself has testified about His Son. The Spirit bears witness, confirming truth within believers. The water and the blood point to the historical reality of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Christianity is grounded in real events, witnessed and recorded.

John draws a clear line: eternal life is found in the Son. To have the Son is to have life; to reject Him is to remain without it. There is no alternative path offered here — only a gracious invitation to trust God’s testimony.

This passage reassures believers that faith, obedience, and assurance are woven together. Our confidence does not rest in our perfection, but in God’s faithful witness and the transforming power of new birth.

Application:

  • Rest in your new identity. You are born of God through faith in Christ.

  • Let love lead to obedience. God’s commandments are life-giving, not oppressive.

  • Understand victory rightly. Overcoming the world means remaining faithful, not avoiding trials.

  • Anchor your faith in truth. God’s testimony is historical, reliable, and Spirit-confirmed.

  • Cling to Christ. Eternal life is found only in the Son.

  • Walk with confidence. Faith produces assurance rooted in God’s promise, not your performance.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the gift of new life through faith in Your Son. Strengthen my trust in Your testimony and help me walk in obedience born from love, not obligation. Teach me what it truly means to overcome the world by remaining faithful to You. Anchor my confidence in Christ alone, and let my life reflect the victory You have already secured. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

Father / Yahweh, Holy / Set Apart, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Repenting from Sin

Set Apart to Live Like Him (1 John 3:1-10)

Have you ever paused to truly consider how astounding it is that God calls you His child — and what that means for how you live?

Key Verse:
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” —1 John 3:1 NASB

Background Context:
John opens this section with an outburst of worship. He marvels that God does not merely forgive us — He adopts us. We are not simply servants or followers; we are His children. Because of this new identity, the world does not understand us any more than it understood Jesus.

John then connects identity to transformation. When Christ appears, we will be like Him, so even now we purify our lives in anticipation. He contrasts the children of God with the children of the devil, explaining that habitual sin is incompatible with a life born of God.

This passage is not about sinless perfection but about the direction of one’s life — a life shaped by righteousness rather than rebellion.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

1 John 3 (1-10)

Children of God Love One Another

     1See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

      4Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Reflection on 1 John 3:1–10:
John begins with awe: “See what great love…” The message is not merely taught; it is exclaimed. Adoption into God’s family is a gift beyond human comprehension. The more we understand it, the more we recognize that our lives must be transformed to reflect our Father.

John reminds us that being God’s child will make us misunderstood in this world. Our values, our priorities, our hopes, and our obedience are different. We belong to a heavenly Father, not an earthly system.

Then he gives a forward-looking promise: “We will be like Him.” Our future glory motivates present purity. Hope in Christ leads naturally to holiness.

John then moves into a strong warning about sin. He speaks plainly: those who practice sin — meaning those who live in it as a pattern, habit, or defining lifestyle — show that they do not belong to God. Not because they struggle, but because they have no desire to change.

He is not describing the believer who stumbles and repents, but the person who is comfortable in sin and unchanged by grace.

John explains why:

  • Jesus came to take away sin.

  • Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil.

  • God’s seed — His life — remains in His children.

A transformed identity produces a transformed life.

This passage also reminds us that our faith is not a “blind leap.” It is anchored in the historical reality of Christ’s appearance, His victory over sin, and His ongoing work in those who belong to Him. Our transformation is evidence of His living presence.

Application:

  • Marvel at your identity. Begin each day remembering: “I am a child of God.”

  • Pursue purity. Let the hope of seeing Christ shape your choices today.

  • Examine your habits. Are your patterns consistent with belonging to God or to the world?

  • Do not become comfortable with sin. Repent quickly; cling to Christ’s power to change you.

  • Live as someone set apart. Expect to be misunderstood — your allegiance is heavenly.

  • Anchor your faith in truth. Your walk with God is rooted in real, historical acts of God, not vague spiritual sentiment.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for calling me Your child. Help me never take for granted the love that adopted me into Your family. Purify my heart, transform my habits, and empower me to walk in righteousness. Keep me from becoming comfortable with sin, and strengthen me to live as one who belongs to You. Make my life a testimony to the grace and truth of Your Son. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.

All Powerful / King of All, Father / Yahweh, Peace / Rest, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness

Power and Peace (Psalm 29)

When the storms of life rage, do you hear chaos — or do you listen for the voice of the Lord?

Key Verse:
“The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.” —Psalm 29:4 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 29, written by David, is a majestic hymn of praise to God’s glory revealed in nature. Likely inspired by a thunderstorm sweeping across the land, David describes the voice of the Lord as it echoes over the waters, flashes through lightning, shakes mountains, and strips forests bare. The psalm begins with a call for all creation — even the heavenly beings — to ascribe glory to the Lord. It ends not in destruction but in peace, as God reigns as King forever and blesses His people with strength and calm after the storm.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 29

      1Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

      2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in holy array.

      3The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The LORD is over many waters.

      4The voice of the LORD is powerful,
The voice of the LORD is majestic.

      5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

      6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.

      7The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire.

      8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

      9The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

      10The LORD sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

      11The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Reflection on Psalm 29:
This psalm calls us to listen — not just with our ears, but with our hearts. Seven times David repeats the phrase “the voice of the LORD” as if to remind us that every power in creation echoes His authority. Thunder, lightning, wind, and waves — all bow to His command.

In our world today, storms often bring fear. But David saw something deeper: the storm itself declares God’s glory. The thunder is not random noise; it’s a reminder of His unmatched power. The wind that bends trees is the same breath that gives life. The lightning that flashes across the sky illuminates the truth that God’s presence cannot be ignored.

Yet notice how the psalm ends — not with fear, but with peace. The same voice that shakes the wilderness also strengthens His people. The One whose power breaks the cedars of Lebanon is the same Lord who comforts those who trust in Him. God’s power and peace are not opposites — they are two parts of His nature.

Sometimes the Lord speaks in thunder to get our attention; other times, He whispers peace into our hearts. Either way, His voice calls us to worship, to reverence, and to trust.

Application:

  • See God’s power in creation. Let the majesty of a storm remind you of His authority and strength.

  • Listen for His voice in every circumstance. Whether loud or quiet, He is always speaking truth and guidance.

  • Remember that His power brings peace. The same God who commands the storm also calms it.

  • Worship through awe. When you behold God’s greatness, respond with praise — for He reigns forever.

When you find yourself in a season of chaos or uncertainty, remember Psalm 29. The voice that commands the storm still speaks today — and when He does, peace follows.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, Your voice is powerful and majestic beyond measure. Thank You that even in the storm, You reign with strength and bring peace to Your people. Help me to listen for Your voice above the noise of life. Teach me to trust that Your power is not against me, but for me. May my heart always respond in worship to Your glory and greatness. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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

John Golda

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.