I've been absent a few days, but still constantly researching topics on my heart, because that it what I am led to do. As you might imagine, coming across as much information as we're sometimes able to can be too much to say the least.
It's funny, right after my last post, as I was so convinced that food was the best place to enter in to learning about God's Torah, I found some information called, "The Mosaic Law: It's Function and Purpose in the New Testament." This article attempted to prove, scripturally, in great detail, about why the law is something we don't need to follow anymore. His points were well backed up with scripture and generally, it is what I have heard in Christian circles. I spent a while reading it though, and it is still pulled up on my computer. http://bible.org/article/mosaic-law-its-function-and-purpose-new-testament
I may have gotten the scripture from this article or not, but, Hebrews 13:9 cut through some of the muck and mire for me, as it reads: Do not be carried away by various strange teachings; for what is good is for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods. People who have made these the focus of their lives have not benefited thereby. This was a relieving statement, but does it mean that we can do away with Torah altogether? Also, there is a young (but very wise) girl's blog, who I've been browsing for some time now, who is dedicated to the Messiah, Jeshua, Jesus! And also she is dedicated to keeping the Torah. Her arguments are also biblical and make a lot of sense. And in fact, she just posted and article yesterday that seems to also address questions on my heart. It seemed like it was almost written just for me! Her article is here:http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=4830
In all this study, I know, I must remember, God's Word is true and constant, it is the final authority, and it does not contradict itself, though people have derived so many differing opinions from it! So how will I know that my understanding is the correct understanding? Probably I need to start reading God's Word (to me) a little more than other blogs about it! Even good ones =P Now that I'm not on my 30-day schedule, I have definitely not been spending the amount of time there I was before.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
My Starting Place - God and Food
So, my study in God's Word thus far has brought me this far!
First, I learned that in order to be at peace/ ease with God's we had to obey His Word / His commands.
Then, I learned that God's Word taught that obeying the commands is not enough, but the God truly desires a relationship with us through His son, Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah.
I'm learning that we, as children of the New Covenant in Jesus, must live first from the place of being set at ease / having our sin atoned for. Then, we must follow His commands, because we love Him. Following His commands, shows Him and others that we love and seek to follow after God.
A bit of personal info about me - I'm always searching out the newest food guidelines that I can find. Growing up, my mom was a nutritionist, and I think that's where I get some of it from. But, I took it on myself, and enjoy discovering what are the best, most nutritious foods to eat for optimal health of the body.
As one could imagine, I've come across TONS of information over the years, much of it conflicting. If you've ever researched nutrition, you know what I mean! New studies are always coming out and new trials always being run.
So, as I really long to dig into God's Law of Life (His commands, His Torah) I thought what better place to start than to investigate what God says about food! I've been so ready and eager to follow every and any advice of man. I think I have a pretty good handle on most of the conventional wisdom that is out there today. It's time to see how that all compares to what God has to say.
Next I'll start with what God began teaching me from His Word about sugar! :) Stay tuned. (I know I will, since on most days I'm the only one who reads this) hehe :)
First, I learned that in order to be at peace/ ease with God's we had to obey His Word / His commands.
Then, I learned that God's Word taught that obeying the commands is not enough, but the God truly desires a relationship with us through His son, Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah.
I'm learning that we, as children of the New Covenant in Jesus, must live first from the place of being set at ease / having our sin atoned for. Then, we must follow His commands, because we love Him. Following His commands, shows Him and others that we love and seek to follow after God.
A bit of personal info about me - I'm always searching out the newest food guidelines that I can find. Growing up, my mom was a nutritionist, and I think that's where I get some of it from. But, I took it on myself, and enjoy discovering what are the best, most nutritious foods to eat for optimal health of the body.
As one could imagine, I've come across TONS of information over the years, much of it conflicting. If you've ever researched nutrition, you know what I mean! New studies are always coming out and new trials always being run.
So, as I really long to dig into God's Law of Life (His commands, His Torah) I thought what better place to start than to investigate what God says about food! I've been so ready and eager to follow every and any advice of man. I think I have a pretty good handle on most of the conventional wisdom that is out there today. It's time to see how that all compares to what God has to say.
Next I'll start with what God began teaching me from His Word about sugar! :) Stay tuned. (I know I will, since on most days I'm the only one who reads this) hehe :)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Laws and Relationship
Yesterday, I left my blog entry dangling with quite the question in my heart about the role of Torah (the Law) in a born-again, Spirit-filled person's life, who has accepted the sacrifice of her Savior, Yesuah, Jesus, the Messiah, and become grafted into the Vine.
Whew!
I don't listen to radio that much. Yesterday, I flicked it on and the first thing that I heard caught my attention:
"Rules without relationship...lead to rebellion." Honestly, the second part is fuzzy in my memory, but the first part was clear. Rules without relationship
...lead to rebellion...
...don't last
...don't work
...are weak
...have not accountability, enforcement, hold no true weight.
Hmmm...I sort of like that last one.
If I follow all the laws of God as best I can, but have no regard for the One who put the laws there, what do I profit? Maybe the Israelites had a difficult time consistently keeping the laws of God, because they had such a difficult time keeping close to the God who made them.
Whew!
I don't listen to radio that much. Yesterday, I flicked it on and the first thing that I heard caught my attention:
"Rules without relationship...lead to rebellion." Honestly, the second part is fuzzy in my memory, but the first part was clear. Rules without relationship
...lead to rebellion...
...don't last
...don't work
...are weak
...have not accountability, enforcement, hold no true weight.
Hmmm...I sort of like that last one.
If I follow all the laws of God as best I can, but have no regard for the One who put the laws there, what do I profit? Maybe the Israelites had a difficult time consistently keeping the laws of God, because they had such a difficult time keeping close to the God who made them.
Monday, March 7, 2011
What Role Do God's Command's Play in My Life?
Matthew 6:25 "Therefore, I tell you, don't worry about your life -- what you will eat or drink; or about your body -- what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
merimna (care, anxiety) - mérimna (see 3307 /merízō, "divide") – properly, a part, separated from the whole; (figuratively) worry (anxiety), dividing and fracturing a person's being into parts. See 3309 (merimnaō). (http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/3308.htm)
We're talking about literally being divided or distracted. What causes me to be divided or distracted? So many things.
What causes me to be made whole? Understanding with conviction. Being convinced, and walking it out.
I see division when I see 5 different tabs open on my internet screen researching one topic, trying to pull me in 5 different directions. Let God's Word Be True.
So now the question on my heart is, What role do God's commands play in our life?
Matthew 5
17 "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. (accomplish, complete, fulfill)
From pleres; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc. -- accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply. http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/4137.htm
18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. So if the Law is fulfilled, why does it matter if we disobey it? 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven! 21 "You have heard that our fathers were told, `Do not murder,'l and that anyone who commits murder will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you that anyone who nurses anger against his brother will be subject to judgment; that whoever calls his brother, `You good-for-nothing!' will be brought before the Sanhedrin; that whoever says, `Fool!' incurs the penalty of burning in the fire of Gei-Hinnom! And, it seems like it's becoming even harder to literally obey it! Matthew 13 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all the things that cause people to sin and all the people who are far from Torah; (other translations say "who practice lawlessness".) 42 and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where people will wail and grind their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let him hear! This is very interesting to investigate. Until I hear otherwise (that's sort of a joke), I remain steadfastly considering that Jesus, Yeshua, completely filled the law, and did not diminish or abolish it.
merimna (care, anxiety) - mérimna (see 3307 /merízō, "divide") – properly, a part, separated from the whole; (figuratively) worry (anxiety), dividing and fracturing a person's being into parts. See 3309 (merimnaō). (http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/3308.htm)
We're talking about literally being divided or distracted. What causes me to be divided or distracted? So many things.
What causes me to be made whole? Understanding with conviction. Being convinced, and walking it out.
I see division when I see 5 different tabs open on my internet screen researching one topic, trying to pull me in 5 different directions. Let God's Word Be True.
So now the question on my heart is, What role do God's commands play in our life?
Matthew 5
17 "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. (accomplish, complete, fulfill)
From pleres; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc. -- accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply. http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/4137.htm
18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. So if the Law is fulfilled, why does it matter if we disobey it? 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven! 21 "You have heard that our fathers were told, `Do not murder,'l and that anyone who commits murder will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you that anyone who nurses anger against his brother will be subject to judgment; that whoever calls his brother, `You good-for-nothing!' will be brought before the Sanhedrin; that whoever says, `Fool!' incurs the penalty of burning in the fire of Gei-Hinnom! And, it seems like it's becoming even harder to literally obey it! Matthew 13 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all the things that cause people to sin and all the people who are far from Torah; (other translations say "who practice lawlessness".) 42 and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where people will wail and grind their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let him hear! This is very interesting to investigate. Until I hear otherwise (that's sort of a joke), I remain steadfastly considering that Jesus, Yeshua, completely filled the law, and did not diminish or abolish it.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mitzvah & Torah
It's my understanding that Mitzvah (Mitzvot -pl.) translates to commands, or deeds, and Torah is the Law a whole. Also it is the first 5 books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
Mitzvah - There are 613 total mitzvah in scripture. There are 248 positive (as in, do this) and 365 negative (as in, don't do this).
ex: "You are to have no other gods before me," (Exodus 20:3)
"You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline," (Exodus 20:4). Torah - The Law (first 5 books of the Bible). But, the Torah can also refer to the entire Jewish scriptures, the whole "Old Testament," (The Law, The Prophets, and The Writings). Scripture verses including "mitzvah" and "Torah" together
- Joshua 22:5 - "Only take great care to obey the mitzvah and the Torah which Moshe the servant of ADONAI gave you - to love ADONAI your God, follow all his ways, observe his mitzvot, cling to him, and serve him with all your heart and being."
- Proverbs 6:23 - For the mitzvah is a lamp, Torah is light, and reproofs that discipline are the way to life. - Mark 12:28-31 - "One of the Torah-teachers came up and heard them engaged in this discussion. Seeing that Yeshua answered them well, he asked him, "Which is the most important mitzvah of them all?" 29 Yeshua answered, "The most important is, `Sh'ma Yisra'el, ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, O Isra'el, the LORD our God, the LORD is one], 30 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other mitzvah greater than these." http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm
Mitzvah - There are 613 total mitzvah in scripture. There are 248 positive (as in, do this) and 365 negative (as in, don't do this).
ex: "You are to have no other gods before me," (Exodus 20:3)
"You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline," (Exodus 20:4). Torah - The Law (first 5 books of the Bible). But, the Torah can also refer to the entire Jewish scriptures, the whole "Old Testament," (The Law, The Prophets, and The Writings). Scripture verses including "mitzvah" and "Torah" together
- Joshua 22:5 - "Only take great care to obey the mitzvah and the Torah which Moshe the servant of ADONAI gave you - to love ADONAI your God, follow all his ways, observe his mitzvot, cling to him, and serve him with all your heart and being."
- Proverbs 6:23 - For the mitzvah is a lamp, Torah is light, and reproofs that discipline are the way to life. - Mark 12:28-31 - "One of the Torah-teachers came up and heard them engaged in this discussion. Seeing that Yeshua answered them well, he asked him, "Which is the most important mitzvah of them all?" 29 Yeshua answered, "The most important is, `Sh'ma Yisra'el, ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, O Isra'el, the LORD our God, the LORD is one], 30 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other mitzvah greater than these." http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Blessings and Curses
My dear husband encouraged me to investigate this topic as a starting point to address the question on a few of the girls hearts I am mentoring:
"Where was God when these terrible things happened to me?"
A tough question to say the least. One you are inclined to give an easy, comforting answer to. But I will not insult the Father by presuming to speak for Him. I will seek His heart in the matter.
In Deuteronomy Chapter 28, God explains part of His system to man. He explains how it is to live in Covenant Blessing, by obeying the commands of the Lord. Is this system still in action today though? I think we'd better be careful before we say it isn't...
Simply put, we either live in covenant with God and therefore receive the privilege of His protection and blessings, or we live far from Him so that He is not our covering - and how can He protect us?
Choice #1. The Blessing - "If you listen closely to what ADONAI your God says, observing and obeying all his mitzvot (commands) which I am giving you today, ADONAI your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth and all the following blessings will be yours in abundance - if you will do what ADONAI your God says," (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)...and He goes on to list blessings. Choice #2. The Curse - "But if you refuse to pay attention to what ADONAI your God says, and do not observe and obey all his mitzvot (commands) and regulations which I am giving you today, then all the following curses will be yours in abundance," (Deuteronomy 28:15)...and He goes on to list curses, which is a much longer and more comprehensive list, maybe to dissuade us from choosing this option all the more!
I believe this is a point that a lot of "Christians" miss. It is a choice to know God, follow Him, and obey His commands. And there are consequences for our choices:
"I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, loving ADONAI your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him - for that is the purpose of your life! On this depends the length of time you will live in the land ADONAI swore he would give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." A great website, talking more about the importance of keeping God's commands can be found here:
http://www.therefinersfire.org/missed_point.htm
"Where was God when these terrible things happened to me?"
A tough question to say the least. One you are inclined to give an easy, comforting answer to. But I will not insult the Father by presuming to speak for Him. I will seek His heart in the matter.
In Deuteronomy Chapter 28, God explains part of His system to man. He explains how it is to live in Covenant Blessing, by obeying the commands of the Lord. Is this system still in action today though? I think we'd better be careful before we say it isn't...
- We can be sure we know Him if we keep His commands - 1 John 2:3
- If we love Him we will keep His commands - John 14:15
Simply put, we either live in covenant with God and therefore receive the privilege of His protection and blessings, or we live far from Him so that He is not our covering - and how can He protect us?
Choice #1. The Blessing - "If you listen closely to what ADONAI your God says, observing and obeying all his mitzvot (commands) which I am giving you today, ADONAI your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth and all the following blessings will be yours in abundance - if you will do what ADONAI your God says," (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)...and He goes on to list blessings. Choice #2. The Curse - "But if you refuse to pay attention to what ADONAI your God says, and do not observe and obey all his mitzvot (commands) and regulations which I am giving you today, then all the following curses will be yours in abundance," (Deuteronomy 28:15)...and He goes on to list curses, which is a much longer and more comprehensive list, maybe to dissuade us from choosing this option all the more!
I believe this is a point that a lot of "Christians" miss. It is a choice to know God, follow Him, and obey His commands. And there are consequences for our choices:
"I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, loving ADONAI your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him - for that is the purpose of your life! On this depends the length of time you will live in the land ADONAI swore he would give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." A great website, talking more about the importance of keeping God's commands can be found here:
http://www.therefinersfire.org/missed_point.htm
Friday, March 4, 2011
Messiah does not impose religion
Colossians 2(Complete Jewish Bible) 1 For I want you to know how hard I work for you, for those in Laodicea, and for the rest of those who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged, that they may be joined together in love, and that they may have all the riches derived from being assured of understanding and fully knowing God's secret truth, which is - the Messiah! 3 It is in him that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4 I say this so that no one will fool you with plausible but specious arguments. 5 For although I am away from you physically, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I see the disciplined and resolute firmness of your trust in the Messiah. 6 Therefore, just as you received the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, keep living your life united with him. 7 Remain deeply rooted in him; continue being built up in him and confirmed in your trust, the way you were taught, so that you overflow in thanksgiving. 8 Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah. 9 For in him, bodily, lives the fullness of all that God is. 10 And it is in union with him that you have been made full - he is the head of every rule and authority. 11 Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature's control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah, 12 you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God's faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your "foreskin," your old nature. But God made you alive along with the Messiah by forgiving you all your sins. 14 He wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us; but he removed it by nailing it to the execution-stake. 15 Stripping the rulers and authorities of their power, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by means of the stake. 16 So don't let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat. 17 These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah. 18 Don't let anyone deny you the prize by insisting that you engage in self-mortification or angel-worship. Such people are always going on about some vision they have had, and they vainly puff themselves up by their worldly outlook. 19 They fail to hold to the Head, from whom the whole Body, receiving supply and being held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God makes it grow. 20 If, along with the Messiah, you died to the elemental spirits of the world, then why, as if you still belonged to the world, are you letting yourselves be bothered by its rules? - 21 "Don't touch this!" "Don't eat that!" "Don't handle the other!" 22 Such prohibitions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings.b 23 They do indeed have the outward appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed religious observances, false humility and asceticism; but they have no value at all in restraining people from indulging their old nature.
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