Category Archives: Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Our Agenda and Our Traditions Are Not Greater than Our God

We can look around and witness ministries of many sizes and shapes. Some are small and some are large. Some involve missionary work and others remain anchored in one place to feed God’s sheep. When we look closely enough, we can also see that some leaders in ministry serve God while some serve only themselves. We must take heed to remember that our ministry or our mission is not greater than our God. We must be careful to remain focused on God and continue our personal relationship with Him through any mission or ministry He calls us to.

Paul is hailed as one of the most successful missionaries in history. He traveled across many places and faced many hardships. His ministry was characterized by both persecution and also by miracles. In all of it, Paul did not lose focus on God. He avoided the trap of taking credit for the miracles and blaming God for the problems. Paul continued to focus on his personal relationship with God even when he was in the midst of a busy missionary journey with a fantastic purpose and experiencing much success.

Perhaps it seems a small example, but it seems significant to me that in all his planning for his missionary journey, Paul reserved time celebrate with God and fellow man. Two examples in Acts 20 include planning his trip so he was not traveling on the days of Unleavened Bread and also his desire to celebrate Pentecost in Jerusalem. These were important to him as was his practice of honoring the Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) and teaching on it consistently, even when he was working full time to make tents.

Acts 18:1-4

Paul at Corinth

      1After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Acts 20:1-16

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

      1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. 3And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. 6We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

      7On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

Troas to Miletus

      13But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Whatever you are doing, whether ministry or employment, do not let it so consume you that you neglect your relationship with God and fellow believers. Observe the Sabbath that God made for men, celebrate the feast as God revealed in the Old Testament. Schedule time for your daily prayer and study first. It is easy to be consumed with things we believe are important and then find we have no time left for deep relationship with God… we must put our time with God first.

I would encourage each of you to research more about the feast days of God and about Sabbath as a start. I began to do so in the past years, and I have been amazed how the things I was taught in a Christian church just do not line up with the scripture. Many churches teach that God’s feasts and celebrations as well as His law and commandments are no longer meaningful for our lives today or have changed. As a simple example, we are often taught by men that God somehow directed us to move Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, but this is nowhere in scripture. In fact, Paul continued to observe Sabbath on the seventh day throughout his life and ministry, after the death and resurrection of Jesus. So did the apostles. Sabbath was changed later, by man.

I have found much growth in my relationship with God when I started changing my life and priorities to line up with His word rather than just what I was taught. I have shifted my focus to put Him first in these and other tangible ways and then conduct my other business around this schedule. I try to test everything against the everlasting truth revealed in scripture rather than just accepting traditions of men.

Ask yourself… “Are my agenda and my traditions greater than my God? What or whom shall direct my path?”

Learn more about application of the Old Testament for our lives today by studying God’s word about the law and commandments. Understanding the Law – What Does It Mean For Us Today?

Learn more about Celebrating God’s Holy Days (Moedim).

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your truth recorded and revealed in scripture. Help Your people to re-discover the truth and restore Your ways among those who call upon the name of Yeshua (or Jesus). Help us to embrace and gain understanding about Your law and Your holy days. Let us not lose track of our personal relationship with You due to being too busy. Haver mercy on us! Lead Your people to repentance, revival, and restoration! Amen. 

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Devotions by John, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Parables, Salvation, Share the Good News

The Parable of the Railroad Tracks

We begin by studying a modern-day parable. While this is not a Biblical parable, it is based on Biblical truth and used to help us understand the urgency of God’s instructions to us. Then we will explore further in scripture.

A car with three men inside came to be stuck on the railroad tracks at a railroad crossing on a cold, rainy night.  The three men had certainly heard of trains and were aware that cars were sometimes hit by trains, but did not really believe it to be likely. While the car was stuck, they remained inside because it was more comfortable than stepping outside. They decided to call a tow truck and wait in the car until it arrived or until the rain stopped.

 A man was walking along in the rain, wet and hurried. He wanted to reach his destination quickly and get out of the cold rain. He saw the car stuck on the railroad tracks and briefly thought about checking to see if they needed help. Instead, he walked on assuring himself that it was not his business to get involved and saying that he was sure it would all be fine in the end. Surely they had a phone. Surely help was already on the way. There was danger, but it was not urgent.

A second pedestrian came by and also noticed the car stuck on the tracks. He was wet and cold, too, but felt God would want Him to check on the men and warn them of the danger. He walked over to the car and spoke with the men inside briefly. He warned them that the trains usually come at night and there was real danger. The men inside did not listen, but actually seemed to get aggravated. One even made fun of the man outside the car and told him to go away. The driver did not want to leave his nice comfortable car, especially when it was uncomfortable outside. So they insisted they would wait in  the car.  Not wanting to offend or be considered foolish, the second pedestrian left quickly and went on about his way, shaking his head and thinking to himself that the fools deserved whatever trouble they brought on themselves.

The third pedestrian came along and spoke the same, true warning as the second pedestrian to the men in the car. He warned them about the danger from the train. He said it was urgent, the train always came about this time of night. The passengers of the car mocked him and told him to go away. They would be fine. The tow truck would be coming soon. The third pedestrian considered leaving, but instead he tried again, warning them of the urgency of getting out of the car. He pointed to the warning lights that now had started to go off and said he heard the train whistle. The driver did not want to hear it and said he was fine. He said the lights often go off on their own, probably a malfunction due to the storm. He did not hear the train whistle over the sound of thunder. Finally one of the men in the car got out of the car, with two remaining behind. The third pedestrian hurried the passenger safely away from the car. When the two remaining passengers saw the light from the train, it was too late, they did not know what to do. The train could not stop. Both men perished. Only the one that responded to the warning was saved and only because the third pedestrian persisted in the urgency of the message.

Who served God best? The man who walked by without saying anything? the second man who tried but quickly gave up when mocked? or the third man that shouted the truth even when others mocked him and pushed him away?

If not for the third man, who persisted in the warning, all in the car would have perished. How sad that people deny the impending danger of the train… of hell. They deny the need for a change … a need to die to self and submit to Christ to be saved and thus they perish. But how glorious that God, in His love for us, has made a way for us to be saved!

Christian evangelism is the sharing of the gospel of Christ with those who have not yet received Jesus as Lord and submitted their lives to Him. To share the good news of the gospel… that God loves us so much He became man in the person of Jesus Christ and suffered, died, and rose again to pay the price for our sins. It is always good news! God provides the answer to all of the wickedness of the world, but we must choose Jesus instead of the ways of the world.

For those of us who submit to Christ, evangelism must not be a casual thing or something we do “if we have time” or “when convenient”. It is not something that only some Christians do… but something we are all instructed to do. Jesus Christ commands us to go and make disciples of all the nations.

Matthew 28:18-20

 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.”

Followers of Jesus should recognize the urgency of sharing the gospel. Those who do not come to accept the offer of salvation through Jesus will perish… will suffer eternal separation from God. How can they accept and submit to Jesus if no one shares the gospel?

Isaiah 52:7

7How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Romans 10:13-17

13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news of good things!”

When we obey the command of Jesus to go and make disciples of all the nations, not everyone will accept Jesus, but we can trust God that when we obey His command, He will be with us and help it to be effective.

Isaiah 55:10-11

10“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Each of us should take time to consider the following in our personal life:

  • Am I a disciple of Jesus? or just someone who accepted Him once and goes to church?
  • Am I constantly learning more about how He wants me to live through studying scripture and prayer and changing my behaviors and attitudes to submit to Him? or am I doing things my way, convinced my way is “good enough”.
  • If I am not a disciple, than how can I go and make disciples of others?
  • If I am a disciple, than am I going and making disciples of others?

To learn more about being and making disciples, please study our teachings, The Great Commission – Making Disciples of All The Nations and The Great Commission – Personal Discipleship Plan.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to be eternally minded, not focused solely on the matters of this world that surround me every day. Help me to see people through your eyes and not my own. Let me have a heart to desire to help others to find Christ, the courage to do so even taking personal risk, and the wisdom to know how to be effective. Help me to remember also that I can not save anyone by myself but it is only through your Holy Spirit that they will turn to you. Help others be willing to make the choice to submit to and follow you when confronted by the truth of the gospel. Help me not give up or be discouraged if I can not see the affects of my efforts to share Christ with others. You may be working in them in ways I will not witness personally. 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.

Encouragement, Heaven and Hell, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Prophecy, Prophecy, Study the Word

Learning Must Begin with the Basics… ABCs and 123s

How would you teach a young child math? Would you start with multiplication and division or would you start with counting and learning the numbers? How about writing? Do we start with paragraphs and writing books? No. We start with learning ABCs. We learn our letters. These seem like silly examples and obvious to us… but the same principle applies toward helping new believers obey God. We must not burden them with all the commands of God as it may overwhelm them. This does not mean that the more complex items are not all important or that we do not want to learn and practice them… at the right time. We start with some basics depending on their particular skills and problems and then we grow from there over time as they are ready to learn and obey more and more. Transforming one’ life is a gradual process, not at all like a light switch where you just flip it and all of a sudden you are living a life of consistent obedience to Jesus.  We need to provide a place for them to start with a manageable set of principles to focus on.

Acts 15:13-34

James’s Judgment

      13After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14“Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15“With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

      16‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return,
AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN,
AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,
AND I WILL RESTORE IT,

      17SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,
AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’

      18SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.
19“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21“For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

      22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, 23and they sent this letter by them,

“The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

24“Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,
25it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27“Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out. 34[But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.

To say that the Gentile believers should  “abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” is not to say that they should not also obey God in other commands. It was a starting point that held particular significance for the Gentiles considering their culture and practices at the time. These were some fundamental building blocks that serve as an important starting point for the Gentiles to break away from their past pagan practices and begin to serve God. These points were also important starting place for creating unity between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.

The leaders of the church never intended to say that these three things are all the Gentiles need to do to show they submit to and love and follow Christ. In effect that would be to say that rules are not important, except for these three. That seems absurd. It was a specific starting place to help these Gentiles get started on their journey to submit to Christ and live for Him. It highlighted items that may tempt them to be drawn away back into their pagan practices and away from Christ.

Helping someone to learn something new always follows this pattern. Start with some basics based on particulars of the students, allow them to focus on and get those right rather and then introduce more information and then more and so on. Train them gradually, but always with the intent that they continue to learn more than just the basics where they started. It is not effective to burden them with an encyclopedia full of knowledge of a subject all at once.

How can you apply this principle in your own life as a new believer or as someone who is helping new believers? Start with the basics.

Ephesians 2:8-10  8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3     1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

We are all encouraged, however, not to remain living as infants in Christ, but rather to grow up spiritually and be able to care for ourselves and teach God’s word to others. We should not encourage any to remain as infants in Christ, clinging only to a few basics, but rather encourage them to grow continually in the faith such that their faith is demonstrated through their life.

Those who love Jesus Christ want to obey His commands, not come up with excuses to disregard them saying “I am free in Christ to do whatever I want. I do not have to follow His law or commands because they are from the Old Testament.”

Romans 6:1-2   1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Quite the opposite… if we love Him, we willingly obey His commands. We do not seek to do the minimum we can get by with and still scrape into heaven… that is not love of Christ… that is love of self and just trying to avoid hell.

John 14:15  15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Be intentional so that you and those you influence do not become complacent accepting a relationship with Christ that stagnates as if still a baby or young child. Focus on continually growing closer to Him through Bible study, prayer, and application in your life of what He commands… even when it makes you different from the world… especially when it shows you to be different from the world. That is what it means to be a light and shines to others. Whether a new believer, or someone who committed to Jesus many years ago, you should never become complacent that you have done all you should do.

Love for our Lord drives us to continue seeking to know Him and show love for Him just as love for a spouse does the same. Do those in a successful marriage ever say… “I have loved my spouse enough. I can stop now.” Of course not!

Changing our lives to be more like Christ is a journey that lasts a lifetime… we continue on the journey one step at a time, we never reach the destination, but we transform our life in the process to be less like our sinful desires and more like Christ.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help us to never grow complacent in seeking to grow closer to You and to live more according to Your ways! Help us to actively seek and find deeper understanding and commitment to live according to Your instructions rather than our own. Help us learn the basics and keep on learning! Amen. 

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Obeying God

God’s Grace Is Not an Excuse to Ignore His Law

Have you ever felt confused about the relevance of the Old Testament, the commands of God, and what they mean to us today? Many followers of Christ will reach a point in their walk with Him when they will have to decide if they continue to just accept the traditions of men, which have been handed down through family and church, or if they will study the Bible to learn for themselves what it actually does and does not say. There can at times be a thoughtful debate amongst believers about how to apply the commands of God from the Old Testament now that Christ has come and died for us and risen again. We will read later from Acts 15 and see that this is a discussion that has been going on for thousands of years.

We know we are forgiven by grace through faith, and not by works or properly performing religious ceremonies or obeying God’s commands perfectly.

Ephesians 2:8  8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

However, this is often misunderstood to mean that we can (or even should) completely disregard the laws of God and just rely solely on grace for salvation. Is that right? Absolutely not.

Romans 6:15-16  15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

We are called by God to obedience. He calls us to obey His commands. It is one way we show love to Him. Are we really only concerned about doing the bare minimum to be saved? or do we actually commit to serving and showing love to Jesus as evidence we have submitted to Him and have genuine, wholehearted faith in Him?

John 14:15  15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:23-24   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.

Jesus actually goes so far as to say in verse 24 above that “He who does not love Me does not keep My words;” When we refuse to obey God, even if to rely on the grace He offers, we are demonstrating that we do not love Him.

It is also important to keep in mind that Jesus, Himself, clearly stated that He did not come to change the law. He emphasized that whoever annuls even the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17-19    17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. I did not come to abolish the law

These are strong words… and very clear when you read it directly from God’s word in scripture. It is important to have this teaching of Christ clear in our minds when we read scriptures such as Acts 15 so as to avoid falling into the trap of misinterpretation. If we come in predisposed to disregarding God’s laws, we may convince ourselves we are right. Many read it and conclude that Peter just claimed that there is no need to obey any of God’s laws anymore, but this is not accurate. Careful reading reveals that the discussion is about being saved, not what is the best way to show love to God and live our lives.

Acts 15:1-12

The Council at Jerusalem

      1Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

      6The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8“And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10“Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11“But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

      12All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

The key point of the discussion is actually salvation. As we discussed above, salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus. We do not have to accomplish other works or rituals to receive it. However, when we love Jesus and truly submit our lives to Him, we will obey His commands… as Paul did, as the disciples did, and as Jesus did. If we love Him, why would we not trust Him and obey Him?

Learn more… Understanding the Law – What Does It Mean For Us Today?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your holy scriptures that can serve as a light unto our path. Thank You for the law which guides us in Your ways. Thank You for the grace and forgiveness when we sin. Please help us not to use grace as an excuse to ignore Your instructions for our lives! Amen. 

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Church / Body of Christ, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, How do I get started?, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Money / Finances / Wealth, Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Teachable

I Know I Am Not Walking with God Correctly. How Do I Get Started?

The people came together in Nehemiah 9 to confess their sins and the sins of their fathers and to repent and turn back to the ways of the LORD. They were, as a community, recommitting themselves to God and His ways. As an extra visible step and commitment, the leaders, priests, and Levites signed a written document. Truly, I believe this was symbolic. What was contained, including the curse of disobedience, is already part of the law of God and coming into relationship with Him. (Read Deuteronomy 28 for more on the curse of disobedience and blessing of obedience.)

The people were firmly recommitting to God publicly and personally as a community of believers. I believe this helps establish a framework to help each other to hold to the law and encourage one another. This is powerful.

Nehemiah 10

Signers of the Document

      1Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, 2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These were the priests. 9And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. 14The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

Obligations of the Document

      28Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, 29are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; 30and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. 31As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

      32We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.

      34Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers’ households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law; 35and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the LORD annually, 36and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God. 37We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns. 38The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. 39For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.

I find it interesting what they highlighted specifically. It shows they wanted to place extra emphasis on these things beyond just “obey the law”, even if they were already contained in the law. As we read, reflect on our society today and how far we have drifted.  If someone is trying to dedicate themselves to returning to God’s ways, that is precisely what Nehemiah and the people who signed this document were doing. This is a great place to start for personal application in our lives today!

  • Observe the commandments, statutes, and ordinances of the law. Christians today largely ignore this as obsolete or pick and choose which ones to obey. (For more, read Understanding the Law – What Does It Mean Today?)
  • Do not intermarry with people of different faiths. This will draw us away from Yahweh. This one is not emphasized as strongly today, but it is still there in most Christian communities.
  • Do not do business with others on sabbath, even if they are not themselves observing sabbath and following Yahweh. This instruction has largely been left behind by modern day Christians, along with truly observing the sabbath as a day of rest.
  • Forego the extraction of debt and planting of crops every 7th year. This is certainly a topic we don’t talk much about today in Christian circles.  Most of us would need to do more research to simply understand what was being instructed and how to apply it. This could make for an interesting Bible study for each of us.
  • Support and participate in the activities of the temple, including the sabbaths, new moons, and appointed times. We have no temple and priesthood today and thus cannot observe all that was instructed. However, I have found it rewarding to reinstate for my family observing sabbath and the appointed times as well as starting to recognize and observe the new moons. Certainly, this is not common among Christians. I would encourage each of you to learn more and observe these times the LORD called out. Sabbath was made for us and is a wonderful break in the week to rest and recharge. The other appointed times are focused on bringing us closer to Yahweh. Believe it or not, they each not only look back to the past before Messiah, but they all have meaning in Messiah as well. The spring appointed times look back at the first coming of Yeshua and the fall appointed times look forward to His return! (For more information, read Celebrating God’s Holy Days (Moedim))
  • Bring your first fruits and tithe to Yahweh. Again, without a temple and priesthood, we cannot observe this commandment as instructed. We can however make the leap to understand that we should put a priority on setting aside money we earn for the purpose of honoring God. This may be donating to a local or broader ministry, funding missionaries, helping the poor, or even helping people directly in your own life and giving the glory to God. The point is that we should remember that God wants our hearts and part of this is best demonstrated by setting aside money to support His work and bring Him glory!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for examples in scripture that remind us of important aspects of walking with You still today. Help renew our minds and spirit to embrace and pursue You and Your ways wholeheartedly. Bring us together in communities and raise up leaders to help guide us in the way we should go! Help us have the courage and discernment to turn away from things we should not be doing and pursue Your ways, even if they seem strange to us today. 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.

Church / Body of Christ, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, How do I get started?, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Study the Word, Teachable

Returning to God’s Ways through the Moedim

It is not a new thing for God’s people to realize they and their fathers have drifted away from God’s law. We see examples throughout scripture reflecting this history. Where we see breakthrough for God’s people in scripture is where they recognize their sin and repent, turning back to God’s ways in His law and turn away from the ways they had been following which mixed and mingled other traditions and teachings that were not of God with those that are of God.

We often see emphasized in scripture a returning to the appointed times or moedim as God’s people return to His ways and proper relationship with Him.  In Ezra 6, after the temple is restored, we see a return to observing Passover. In Nehemiah 8, after completing the wall and starting to read and study the word together as a community, we see a return to celebrating Tabernacles.  I have found returning to celebrate the appointed times of God for my family even today helps draw our attention off pagan, man-made holidays, and focus on relationship with God. The focus of the moedim are always structured around bringing us closer to focus on our relationship with God. They are not focused on gifts, or parties, or people. They are focused on God and His relationship with us. These are worth pursuing. There is even more meaning in the Moedim now with Messiah Yeshua as much of the Moedim focuses on Him.  (To learn more, read Celebrating God’s Holy Days (Moedim).)

Nehemiah 8:13-18

Feast of Booths Restored

      13Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 15So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. 18He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

Don’t overlook this topic too quickly just because it is not commonly discussed by your church or family. With an attitude like that the people of Ezra and Nehemiah would not have returned to proper relationship with God! They had to seek out and study the word of God and change their behavior and focus. They chose to return to God’s law and His ways, leaving behind other customs and teachings they had previously accepted for generations in Babylon.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank you for raising up leaders to help us come back to You. Thank You for Your written word to guide us as a lamp unto our feet so we can find the right path. Help us to be willing to test and challenge the “norm” in the church today and seek diligently to return to You and Your ways. Help us to bond together for this change and not have to be isolated. Lead us together in fellowship as Your people as in the case of Nehemiah and Ezra. Open our minds to the wonderful things of Your word. 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, Obeying God, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Study the Word, Teachable

Repent and Return to the Ways of Yahweh with Grief and Joy

Ezra was priest and scribe. Nehemiah became governor. The LORD used them both individually and together to lead the people of Judah back to His ways and to restore Jerusalem. It is fun to watch as the LORD brings all the right “chess pieces” into the right place at the right time to accomplish His will.  The books of Nehemiah and Ezra are great examples of this as a whole. We see examples of the LORD guiding individual leaders among His people, prompting the people at large to take action, and even using Persian kings.

The people who returned from exile had to re-learn a lot about Yahweh’s instructions. The temple had been destroyed.  They had been in exile for generations in a pagan land. When they came together to read the law given to Moses, they treated it with great respect and were truly grieved as they heard it, recognizing how they had not been living according to God’s ways. The law was explained to them. They worshipped Yahweh. It was a powerful moment in history for their reconciliation with Yahweh as His people.

They turned it into great celebration and helped one another by sharing food with those who had not prepared any.

Nehemiah 8:1-12

Ezra Reads the Law

      1And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. 2Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

“This Day Is Holy”

      9Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

This is a great example of a people returning to the LORD. They go back to the scriptures and teach and learn them together as a community. They are grieved for how they have been living, but then celebrate that now they are learning and understanding the law correctly. They are together as a community.

Our society, even Christians at large, very much need to turn away from relying on the teachings and customs of men and really dive back into the scriptures in detail and challenge ourselves to leave behind what is not of God and embrace what the word instructs us to do. There are many wrong teachings mingled in with the church today. It is very much like we are living in exile in a pagan land. Much common teaching among Christians has the ways of man mixed and mingled with the truth of God’s word.

Each of us as individuals likely needs to consider if we need to make a similar journey to really test our understanding and common teaching about God’s word. We need to turn away from the things that He does not want us to do and leave those behind. We should celebrate and embrace change as a return to His ways. We should try to do so with others.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please raise up leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah from among the spiritual leaders and government leaders that rule our land. Help rally Your people around them and around each other. Help us be hungry to challenge and test the teachings we have accepted as Yours against Your holy scriptures. Bring about unity in a community of believers seeking You wholeheartedly across our cities, states, and nation… across the world. 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.

All Powerful / King of All, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Obeying God, Provider, Strong in Our Weakness, Submitted / Servant

The Key to Ezra’s Success as He Pursued Restoration

The LORD continued to provide for and support the efforts of those whom He had chosen to come back and rebuild the temple and Jerusalem.  You can, of course, catch up on the earlier parts of Ezra we have been reading if you missed the background. God stirred up the heart of King Cyrus and people of Judah to return and provided resources and support from the king to help them on their way. They faced opposition, but ultimately overcame and worked to restore the temple and implemented Passover again. They wanted to draw near in relationship to God according to His instruction.

We have also been discussing a parallel between the return to Jerusalem and our own personal return to relationship with the LORD. As we seek to draw near to Him, we often need Him to stir our spirit and draw us to Him. We, then, need to obey. It is through His power and blessing that we, individually or as a group, truly return to Him.  He can make a way where none seems possible.

As we continue in Ezra 7, we read about Yahweh again putting His hand upon a key player, this time Ezra, and working to bring more people and resources back to Jerusalem. He is restoring more people to relationship with Him according to His ways. It is not because of the cleverness or greatness of Ezra, though he deserves credit for obeying.  The key to Ezra’s success may be summarized that he was acting in the will of God and not for his own agenda as he pursued the restoration of God’s ways. He had the hand of blessing on Him from God as a result.

Ezra 7

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem

      1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest. 6This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. 7Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

      8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

King’s Decree on Behalf of Ezra

      11Now this is the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel: 12“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now 13I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14“Forasmuch as you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16with all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18“Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. 19“Also the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20“The rest of the needs for the house of your God, for which you may have occasion to provide, provide for it from the royal treasury.

      21“I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, 22even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt as needed. 23“Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24“We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.

      25“You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26“Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”

The King’s Kindness

      27Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

It is within the LORD’s power to stir the spirit of those who are not His and those who are His people. He can make a way for His people to be drawn together again where once they were dispersed. He can make a way for us to rediscover the law of God where once it was largely lost. He can make a way to restore us to His holy appointed times where many had forgotten or drifted away. Praise and glory and honor be to Yahweh! There is no other like Him.

If you are feeling distant to Him or wanting simply to draw nearer, reach out to Him. Pray. Study. Worship. Call upon Him and ask Him to bring you back to Him and to others who seek Him diligently. Even if you do not feel distant personally, take a few minutes to pray to ask the LORD to restore and grow the fellowship of more followers that would truly be willing to leave behind the traditions of men and return from Babylon (metaphorically) to rediscover the law of God and pursue it passionately with others who do likewise. Ask Yahweh to raise up more leaders like Ezra who will help to act out His will and lead the people to restoration and fellowship… a return to proper relationship with God according to His ways.

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.

Faithful, Guide, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God

Returning to Yah’s Ways Joyfully

The people of Judah had turned away from the LORD. They did not repent. As a result, God brought about the Babylonian captivity in which they were removed from Jerusalem and Judah for 70 years. Generations grew up not knowing home. God stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia and of the people of Judah whom he wanted to return, and they were able to come back and rebuild the temple.

Experience the emotions as you read. Some were brought to tears at the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of their relationship with the LORD and a return to His ways. There is a solid parallel here to those who have known the LORD and turned away from Him, before later returning. It is a joyous time for all of us when the lost sheep or the prodigal sons return!

Ezra 3:8-13

Temple Restoration Begun

      8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. 9Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.

10Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel. 11They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, 13so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

The temple restoration surely was a significant part in returning to the LORD and living according to His ways! People were overjoyed! What a time it must have been. So, also, when some of us have strayed away from the ways of the LORD and our relationship with Him and then return. Let it be a joyous occasion upon the return of the lost sheep or prodigal sons!

Ask the LORD to reveal to you any areas in your life in which you are straying from His ways and need to make changes to return and draw near to Him once again.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please reveal any areas in my life in which I am straying from Your ways and need to make changes to return and draw near to You once again. Help me to learn more of Your ways and continue to understand more clearly and obey more faithfully. Reveal to me any wrong traditions I am following as a result of the ways and teachings of men rather than Your ways. Help Your people broadly in this way to return to You and 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.

Courage / Fear, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Offering Sacrifices, Traditions / Holidays

Important Milestones in Returning to Yah’s Ways

After a long time in captivity, the people returned to Jerusalem. We see in Ezra 3 how what were considered some important milestones in restoring the altar and the sacrifices. It was also a return to the appointed times like Feast of Booths and new moons. In summary, it was returning to the way in which Yah had instructed them to live according to His law. Imagine how excited the people must have been after so long in Babylon.  The return must have been joyous!

Ezra 3:1-7

Altar and Sacrifices Restored

      1Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. 3So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required; 5and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill offering to the LORD. 6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid. 7Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

Even in their success, they still had challenges. One example here is that they were fearful of the people of the lands. They faced their fear and overcame it to the glory and honor of Yahweh and they were able to pull closer once again to God.

What are some things that you may need to pursue that Yahweh has instructed? Maybe there are some things you are not doing that you should be? Ask the LORD to show you and help what you should do and help you overcome any fear that may stand in your way.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help those who seek to follow Yeshua to find the truth of Your ways. Help us to draw near to You and overcome any fear that would stand in our way! May the glory and honor be 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.