Category: Coffee with Jesus

These are morning devotionals, get your day started right motivation and inspiration.

Understanding the Moral Debate: Abortion and its Implications

Understanding the Moral Debate: Abortion and its Implications

“What is the meaning of life?” “To be or not to be? That is the question.” “There is a time for every purpose under heaven.” “Live in the moment, walk humbly, work hard.” “Vanity, all is vanity.”

I subscribed to a streaming service the other day. It prides itself on wholesome, family entertainment. I caved, after seeing a particular trailer for a film that I could only find on their streaming platform. The film was called, Amazing Grace. From Google, “The film tells the true story of British politician William Wilberforce. He led a long fight to end the slave trade in the 18th century. It also features the hymn’s writer, former slave trader John Newton.”

After watching the movie, Amazing Grace, I was moved to learn more about William Wilberforce. I found a Biography on William Wilberforce, written by Stephen Tomkins. I am only a few pages in and I read this paragraph.

“Robert and his wife Elizabeth had three children besides William – all daughters – but only one of the girls, Sarah, survived infancy, and William himself was a weak, sickly child, small and with poor eyesight. In later life he often reflected with gratitude that if he had been born in what he was pleased to call ‘less civilized times’, his parents would not have taken the trouble to keep him alive.”

I was struck by the last line, “his parents would not have taken the trouble to keep him alive.” My mind immediately went to Massachusetts new abortion law eliminating any gestational limits. Not to single out a single state as it isn’t limited to just Massachusetts. In fact, they simply joined a growing list of states to take this step securing the right to abortion up to birth. The states Massachusetts joins, Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.).

What are the reasons for abortion that some find being a “good argument”? In my readings on it, it appears to be mainly, quality of life. Here is an exert from U.S. Abortions Rights by State, at Britannica.com. “Induced abortions can be performed for various reasons, including to preserve the mother’s physical or mental well-being, in cases of rape or incest, to prevent the birth of a child with serious abnormalities, or for social or economic reasons. When abortions are performed to preserve the mother’s well-being or in cases of rape or incest, they are often considered therapeutic.”

Some will call me deceptive for not highlighting the word serious when talking about abnormalities. Well, my reasoning is quite simple, serious is undefined, what constitutes serious for one individual may not for another. Therefore, serious is added to quiet dissension, and for no other reason.

Imagine if William Wilberforce’s parents lived in a society such as ours, in such moral decay. What would have been his outcome? I find it striking that Stephen Tomkins points out that William thought it a good thing that he wasn’t born in ‘less civilized times’, or his parents might have chosen not to keep him alive. It sounds barbaric and yet here we are in 2026, modern medical advancements beyond imagination when William Wilberforce was born, August 24, 1759.

How many William’s never saw the light of day because of convenience, or quality of life? How many medical breakthroughs lost, cultural revolutionary leaders missing, quality of life enhancements never realized, because of ‘therapeutic’ reasons? No one can answer those questions. No one dares try.

“What is the meaning of life?” “To be or not to be? That is the question.” “There is a time for every purpose under heaven.” “Live in the moment, walk humbly, work hard.” “Vanity, all is vanity.”

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Messiah. 1 Peter 1:17-19

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of Adonai. 1 Peter 2:1-3

The word says, metaphorically, that we are knit together by God in our mother’s womb. Using this metaphor, when we as a society choose abortion, are we not also ripping the knitting needles out of the hand of the Creator?

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

You are loved,
cj

Understanding God’s Covenant: Written on Our Hearts

Understanding God’s Covenant: Written on Our Hearts

“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31

There are many meme’s and TicToc posts that will tell you to “fear not”. They will claim that “fear not”, is quoted 365 times in Scripture. And although this is a great comfort to many and there is some truth behind its sentiment, the reality remains, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” As found in Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10.

Now before you jump on me saying that these are not the same thing, I know, but I want to draw a line of comparison. The Church has gone from reverent fear of God, to a flippant cursory reading and understanding of His Word. Which has lead to misunderstandings and false teachings of what God calls His followers to.

Let’s dive into Hebrews 10 where we will discover both, security–fear not, and fear– the beginning of wisdom. Hebrews 10 opens up as a commentary on Psalm 40:6-8. There is a lot that is being said here. It begins talking about the Law, ‘Torah’, being only a shadow of things to come and not the very form of things. The writer says, this “can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” The shadow is not the fullness. Where the yearly sacrifice stated in the Law brought a covering for sin. The fullness of what was to come in Messiah, was the exchange our sin for His righteousness.

Which brings to light the importance of Passover and why holding to all of the Feasts, as memorial stones, is so important. We see the permanence of Messiahs offering and the victory won for those who are found in Him.

Now continuing in Hebrews 10 what is the conclusion drawn by the author on the significance of Messiah’s offering over the yearly sacrifice? “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?” The writer now draws directly on Psalm 40; “Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for Me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the Book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O God.'” Interestingly the author leaves off the last line of verse eight, “Your Law is within My heart.” Which is done on purpose as the author will shortly bring this idea home.

We who are in Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus), can rest in knowing that our sins have been exchanged for the righteousness of the Son of God, once and for all. “But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until his enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” No longer are we bound by the early restrictions of a brick and mortar temple and beholden to priests to offer sacrifice. We now can come boldly to the throne of grace having written on our hearts the Law of God. His Holy Instruction, the Torah.

“And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will amen with them after those days, says YHWH: I will put My Torah upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them,’ He then says, ‘And their sins and their lawless (Torahless) deeds I will remember no more.‘” Here the author of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31.

Honest question if the Torah is done away with, why then would He write it on our hearts? When in true understanding we see that what is done away with by the blood of Messiah is the law of sin and its conclusion, death. Not the need to walk in obedience of the Fathers instruction. In Messiah, we are not free to sin or to walk according to our own desires, but to walk according to what has been written on our hearts.

We have a new boldness in Messiah on how we ought to walk and conduct ourselves, in love and kindness, and in obedience to the Fathers instruction found in the very scrolls, that the author of Hebrews is quoting.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Yahoshua, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a Great Priest (Yahoshua) over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good works. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25

To what are we encouraging one another on to? It is in the conduct of those set apart for good works. Are we to make the sacrifice of Messiah to no effect by living as the world? The author of Hebrews says NO! “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.”

You have been called to holiness, you have been called to return to Gods instruction. We are no longer bound by sin unto death by the blood of Messiah but we are still bound by a covenant that is written on our hearts and on our minds. It beckons us onward towards the throne of grace. In the presence of the saints who encourage us to keep the faith, to keep the promises, to keep the instruction. “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yahoshua.” Revelation 14:12.

“Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Do you honestly believe that we insult the Spirit of Grace by seeking to honor the covenant written on our hearts? The very covenant God said, “I WILL put MY TORAH upon their HEARTS, and on their MIND I WILL write them.”

“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘YHWH will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31

I encourage you to read God’s Word daily, make it a practice to know Him and His instruction. Desire to know that covenant has He or wants to write on your heart and on your mind. Seek Him, seek truth.

You are loved,
cj

Gluttons of Grace: The Spiritual Dangers of Gluttony

Gluttons of Grace: The Spiritual Dangers of Gluttony

The other night I ate out. It was fast food so nothing fancy and I brought it home so is that actually eating out, technically? The place I chose had a special menu option of a one dollar item. So I added it to my order. However, I didn’t take anything away from what I was already ordering. Therefore, in the end I over ate. Is this the definition of gluttony?

What is the definition of gluttony? The definition is quite simple, gluttony is “excessive eating and drinking.” It is also numbered among the often spoken of, seven deadly sins. Side note here the seven deadly sins although can be found separately within Scripture they do not appear as a list. It is believed that the seven deadly sins was coined by Pope Gregory I. Now gluttony in Hebrew can also be translated as, to be vile, to be worthless, to be insignificant. Based on these definitions, being glutinous, doesn’t sound so appealing.

The church doesn’t like to talk much about gluttony. If you ask me it is because this one hits way too close to home and is far harder to hide. Everyone has their struggles so I am not trying to be insensitive just pointing out an observation. There is plenty that I have had to overcome and others I am still battling, to that I say fight the good fight.

One issue I see abounding in the church today is, gluttony of grace. Taking advantage of Elohim’s patience. Without a doubt I have fallen into this trap as well. However, once one begins to realize that Yahoshua (Jesus) kept and taught the Torah and that He used it to teach, it cannot be denied or swept away.

In John eight Yahoshua makes a statement that many ignore or give it a cursory glance. In being brought the woman caught in adultery at the end of the encounter He says to the woman; “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.” Rather than take this verse as a statement of fact, many treat it as an invitation to change. Although they are partly correct they are missing the bigger picture. We are called to abound in good works.

Not a works based salvation but good works because we are saved. Abounding in the good works prepared for us before the foundation of the world. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Messiah Yahoshua to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10 Berean Study Bible). What are these good works? Some would say they are the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians five. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are in Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Again this isn’t a wrong belief it is simply incomplete. The good works involve keeping that which the Father established for His people. His instruction, the Torah, as we walk in the light of His Truth. The problem is that we see a list of rules and say it is impossible. Rather than holding to the promise that the Holy Spirit brings in fulfillment of Ezekiels prophecy. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Paul himself, the one in whom so many twist to justify their sinful natures, said, “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Messiah Yahoshua were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Messiah was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.”

Newness of life is not to continue to sin. Essentially becoming gluttons of grace. Then in the end finding out the one we claim to know, never knew us. Yahoshua said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23.

Imagine finding out that we are vile, worthless, or insignificant. Because, instead of putting on the newness of life we walked as gluttons. Continuing in the traditions of man rather than searching out truth and living according to the Fathers instruction. Proverbs 23:15-19 is a good place to wrap things up. “My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart will indeed rejoice. My inmost being will rejoice  when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the YHWH. For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.”

May we all seek for a heart of flesh from the Father. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Transforming Lives: Conforming vs. Standing Out

Transforming Lives: Conforming vs. Standing Out

When I was kid I had a green tank top that was my absolute favorite shirt. I wore that shirt every chance I got. I not only liked the style, but the image on the front, I found especially amusing. It had a picture of a chimpanzee, sitting on a toilet, eating a banana. Most people found the shirt tolerable, my parents surprisingly did. Especially given their usual apprehension to such things, on religious objections.

My mormon friends down the street did not find it at all amusing. In fact, I was not allowed in their home if I was wearing the shirt. I would have to go home and change, which wasn’t too bad, as I just lived a few houses down the street. A small price to pay for my favorite shirt.

I loved it so much that one Christmas season, at my schools Christmas program, I attempted to wear it. You see my second grade class was instructed to wear green. Well, I only owned two pieces of green clothing. My green chimpanzee tank top and a pair of green corduroy pants. I also wore those pants often, never with the tank top, but often enough that they were faded, worn, and never looked clean, even, fresh out of the laundry.

You should have seen the look on my mother’s face when I came out of my room. I announced, “Okay, I am ready to go.” To which my mother said, “You are not wearing that to your Christmas showcase.” “But Mom, we have to wear green and this is all the green I have.” I rebutted. She glared down at me, “Go put on your suit, you are going to look nice.” There was some more back and forth, but there was no winning and eventually I conceded, my mother victorious again. I went back to my room and pulled out my chocolate brown suit with creme colored shirt. The suit was three pieces, slacks, vest, blazer, accented with my creme colored shirt and a brown tie that had a gold weave. It matched the brown shoes with gold buckle. No doubt I looked very nice, but it wasn’t green, and I knew I was in for it, when I walked into my classroom.

Sure enough, the click clack of my dress shoes on the tile floor of the school, echoed down the halls, announcing my arrival. I stepped into the glass and my friends gasped and then as good friends do began pointing and laughing. “You were supposed to wear green!” They said. “I know!” I snapped back. Mrs Michaels my second grade teacher, who already disdained my very existence, walked over to me shaking her head. She asked if my parents were here and I said yes. She then surprisingly turned around to address another issue and I thought, “wow, that’s it? That wasn’t bad at all.”

Soon after Mrs Michaels called the class to the front and told us to get into our stage places to rehearse our two or three songs. I don’t recall the exact number but the one song that stands out in my core memory, “O Christmas Tree.” During all the other rehearsals I was set in the back row, stage right. Tonight in a sea of green Mrs Michaels would get a scarring blow, “CJ, you come down here in front, you are going to be the trunk of our tree. This way you won’t stand out as much.” To which even my second grade brain thought, ‘Not stand out? I am right in the middle up front . . . it will be like I am the only one on the stage!’ It would have been far less noticeable had I been able to stand in the back wearing my worn out green corduroy pants and chimpanzee tank.

Romans 12:1-8 says:
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Messiah we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.“

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.“

I have told that story many times before, illustrating our need as believers in Messiah, to stand out, not blend in. We are called to be different. That although we live in the world, we are not of the world. We were once partakers in sin and disfunction but now we are called to a new life. We are now Ambassadors of the Kingdom. We are now clothed in righteousness and the world should know it. We should stick out. This doesn’t mean driving around with a sticker on your bumper, or posting Bible verses on your social media pages. It isn’t about attending church every week or going to Bible studies.

Now, none of those things are necessarily bad. However, what does your lifestyle say of you. When you say no words what do your actions say? When you are at work, what does your production say? When you are out with friends, what do your habits say? Are you wearing the lifestyle of the King? Have you taken the mantle, are you carrying your cross? This doesn’t mean perfection, we all make mistakes, we allow our flesh to win sometimes. The question is, was that win an upset, or was sin favored to win?

Walking in righteousness is a struggle, walking in the spirit is a struggle. Yahoshua, never said life in Him would be easy. He said, “you will be hated for my names sake.” That isn’t blending in, that is standing out. Does it mean you can’t find favor in the eyes of others? Absolutely not. The early believers in Acts, “praising God and finding favor with all the people.” Yet, still as the day of Adonai approaches He did say that our obedience would become a suffering point. Unfortunately, too many are comfortable with the culture that they don’t realize that the pot is beginning to boil.

The ground is being shaken and we are being called to the front. We are called to represent the King by standing on the roots, bringing the message of life to the masses. We are called to be a brown suit standing in a sea of green tee’s. We are called to be set apart from the world, not to participate in its lawlessness. We must discover what it means to be an heir in the Kingdom.

What did the Father mean when He gave Micah these words; “He has shown you O’man what is good and what does Elohim require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” He wasn’t changing His ideals or His message for the Father spoke through Moses saying; “And now, O Israel, what does YHWH your God ask of you but to fear YHWH your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of YHWH that I am giving you this day for your own good.“

What did the Father mean when He inspired Paul to pen these words; “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” We are called to stand out and be different. We are called to honor our Heavenly Father. We are called to walk according to the Son, our Messiah Yahoshua.

We must learn the way of THE Rabbi, Yahoshua, and walk and do according to His instruction. Which is the Father’s instruction written out for us. Do not get wrapped in mans tradition, and twisted theologies, but rather study to show yourself approved. His Spirit will lead us into all truth if we diligently seek Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Will you earnestly seek Him? Then join me and subscribe.

You are loved,
cj

Reflecting on the Past: The Journey of Growth in Truth

Reflecting on the Past: The Journey of Growth in Truth

Another year older and i would like to think that i am at least a bit wiser. Although, every year at this time i can’t help but think what my life would be like if certain things could be undone. Statements like, “i should have done this . . .”, “i could have done this . . .”, and “i would have done this . . .”, circle my mind. The shoulda, coulda, woulda’s of life. In my opinion they aren’t completely without merit, although they can become problematic.

Yahoshua said, “And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” He was making a specific point about instructing His disciples but the idea is transferable. You have probably thought it yourself at some point, “It was better when I was a kid.” Wishing for another time in the past, hoping things will return. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but they won’t. In fact things are only going to get increasingly worse overall. At least until Yahoshua returns.

When He does return He will restore things, but to what? We have only the word but no experience in what is to come. This is why there are so many opinions. Everyone who reads it has a slightly different idea and all of them will say, “God, revealed to me in a dream . . .” Who do you trust, who do you listen to? You probably have your teacher favorites based on your doctrinal upbringing. And through that lens you will fit your understanding of Scripture. Regardless if it makes any sense or not because one simply says, “For now we know in part, seeing things through a mirror dimly.” “There are many mysteries that will be revealed in the end.” Etc.

Although, this is true it does not justify ignorance on the matters of truth. What is TRUTH? His, God’s Word, is Truth. Yahoshua said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Did He mean never look back? Obviously not, or Hebrews 11 would be unreadable. So what can one gain from looking back at one’s life and reflecting?

Learning from past mistakes, is clearly a good idea. Looking at times you were forgiven, in order to forgive others, is a worthy endeavor. Pondering what you have learned in order to understand truth, without a doubt, is a good idea. After all, Paul tells Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved, a workman, who rightly handles the word of truth.”

Be a student of life. Be willing to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Learning what not to do is as important as learning what to do. Both are equally beneficial if treated correctly. Those previous experiences can be motivation for future decisions, and they should be, with healthy perspective.

God has spoken to us through His word. There is no guessing if you read it for yourself. Part of the ‘New Covenant’ is that His Spirit will guide us. John says, “And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.”

The New Covenant is written on our hearts. It is the Instruction of God and it includes the history of His people. All of it. The good, the bad, the indifferent. All of the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s. The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah when he writes, “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares Adonai. I will put My Torah in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Paul writes to the Romans, “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature what the Torah requires, they are a Torah to themselves, even though they do not have the Torah. So they show that the work of the Torah is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Messiah Yahoshua, as proclaimed by my gospel.”

The problem many run into is that they don’t like to admit to their mistakes. Instead they blame others for their misfortunes. Pride becomes an issue. Even if it is equal parts their own doing and that of someone else, it is a default to blame the other entirely. We need to own our own. In that we discover truth. It is said that we are the sum of our mistakes. That is half true. We are the sum of our choices, good, bad, indifferent. Therefore it should stand to reason that we should desire to make choices, from this moment forward, that reflect faith, hope, and love. Right?

Yahoshua said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Let us be willing to learn from our past mistakes. Study the word with a desire to be changed by the word. In order that we might walk in newness of life, within the ‘New Covenant’, given to those who put their faith in Messiah. The past is the past. Learn from it. Grow from it. But do not be chained by it.

You are loved,
cj

Breaking Free from Legalism: Embracing Messiah’s Love

Breaking Free from Legalism: Embracing Messiah’s Love

When taking your relationship with Messiah from a religion to a relationship, one by necessity strips off the man made traditions. This is an important first step. One then begins to learn to walk in relationship with Messiah. However, in our humanity we still make this about ourselves, our comforts, our desires, our feelings, me, me me, I and me again. We look at all that Yahoshua (Jesus) did for us, how he suffered the most horrific torturous death imaginable. Then we say to ourselves, “He did this so that I don’t have to keep the law.” Say that out-loud and tell me it doesn’t sound like you are in an abusive relationship. Now look deeper into it and tell me who is the abuser?

I do not reject God’s gracious gift; for if the way in which one attains righteousness is through legalism, then the Messiah’s death was pointless.

You stupid Galatians! Who has put you under a spell? Before your very eyes Yahoshua the Messiah was clearly portrayed as having been put to death as a criminal! I want to know from you just this one thing: did you receive the Spirit by legalistic observance of Torah commands or by trusting in what you heard and being faithful to it? Are you that stupid? Having begun with the Spirit’s power, do you think you can reach the goal under your own power?  Have you suffered so much for nothing? If that’s the way you think, your suffering certainly will have been for nothing!  What about God, who supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you — does he do it because of your legalistic observance of Torah commands or because you trust in what you heard and are faithful to it?

It was the same with Abraham: “He trusted in God and was faithful to him, and that was credited to his account as righteousness.”  Be assured, then, that it is those who live by trusting and being faithful who are really children of Abraham. (Galatians 2:21-3:7)

When talking about following the commands of God, especially after coming out of religion, many will cry, ‘legalism!’ And they will use Galatians as a point of reference. Followed by something along the lines of, “See, it is about a relationship, not legalistic religion.” And they would be half right. Abraham trusted that what God said, He would do. And based on that trust, that faith, Abraham was obedient to all that God commanded. Paul in his letter to the Galatians goes so far as to call them stupid. Why? Because they began to focus on the observance of Torah outside of trusting in what they had heard and then being faithful to it. You see they were making it about something, rather than someone, and separating the two.

How do I know this? Paul himself tells the Romans this in 6:1-2. “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?” What is sin? As we have looked at time and time again 1 John 3:4 tells us exactly what sin is: “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.” That is to say that sin is being outside of Torah. There is no way around it.

So what is it then that saves us? It is the blood of Messiah, His death has taken away the sin of those who put their faith in Him. His righteousness is given to us and undeservedly so. However, sin is still sin and Abraham shows us that trusting in God is shown through obedience to Him, and that is counted to him as righteousness. So the message Paul is writing to the Galatians and also to the Romans is the same. Now that we have put our faith and trust in Messiah, we should no longer walk in the former sins that we knew. For there is a more excellent way! It is the Way of the Rabbi. It is taking on His lifestyle. Going from religion to relationship to a lifestyle that mirrors that of Messiah.

Who was obedient to the Father even to death. Yahoshua set the example of Faith in the promise of His resurrection that we who believe will also be raised up with Him in newness of life. That we no longer walk according to the ways of man, but that like Messiah we do as the Father has instructed. We build on the relationship with His Son Yahoshua, our groom to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb. “So Yahoshua replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.“” John 5:19. We should be so like minded. What pleases the Father? Psalm 51 reveals, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

If you ask those who have been married for a long time what is their secret you will hear a common theme. That is that each one sought to do for the other more than themselves. In a two-sided relationship where both participants are seeking to honor the other more than themselves you find not only longevity but happiness, peace, joy, love, and satisfaction. It is a lifestyle that becomes the focal point in a relationship, a choice to love the other as they receive love. That is how our Messiah loved and loves us and that is how we ought to love Him in return. And when we love Him we are loving the Father.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. O Adonai, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.” Psalm 51:10-1

Finally, here in Psalm 51 David writes, “I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.” This has always been the point of coming to Messiah. Learning the ways of the Father and doing them. Taking on the heavenly lifestyle and leaving the lawless lifestyle of humanity behind. For the ruler of this world is lawless, he is without Torah, without instruction. And the lawless one is coming to deceive many into a lifestyle of lawlessness, of sin. Are you walking in the light of the Fathers instruction by faith in Messiah? For in the end both are required, Revelation 14:12 says: “Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua.“

Choose this day whom you will serve, the lawless one parading around as the gods of this world or the maker of Heaven and Earth? As for me, i will serve my Father YHWH, in faith of Messiah Yahoshua, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You are loved,
cj

Living a Lifestyle of Prayer: Lessons from David and Messiah

Living a Lifestyle of Prayer: Lessons from David and Messiah

When the world has you living and doing and being everything but what God ordained in His Word, a lifestyle based on Messiah becomes blurred. How then does the statement, ‘a lifestyle not a religion,’ become more than an idea? In 1 Corinthians Paul writes, “Imitate me, just as I imitate Messiah.” This is a call to study the life of Messiah as presented in the Gospels. How did he live and do and be? This is our goal, it does not move, although we are constantly growing.

Let’s look at Psalm 5 which is a song from Davids heart to his God. It is the heart posture we should all have. He begins: “Give ear to my words, Adonai, consider my inmost thoughts.” When desiring to turn your faith into a lifestyle you have to be willing, even desiring, that God would consider your inmost thoughts. Hide nothing, for nothing in the end is hid from Him. David continues, “Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to You. Adonai, in the morning You will hear my voice, in the morning I lay my needs before You and wait expectantly.”

The plea of David, “Listen,” isn’t because he doesn’t think Adonai will listen, rather, it is a measured cry of desire. He is revealing his heart for Adonai in a heart felt plea, to his king and his God. This wasn’t a one off prayer it was a pattern it was a lifestyle of prayer as David then says, “in the morning you WILL hear my voice.” How often did our Messiah depart the crowds and even his disciples to get alone and pray? The answer often and usually in the morning. Mark 1:5 records this, “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Yahoshua (Jesus) got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.” And the prayer was one of expectancy. When we pray, we should do so with a faith filled with expectancy.

David seemingly shifts gears here in the next set of verses. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; evil cannot remain with You. Those who brag cannot stand before Your eyes, You hate all who do evil, You destroy those who tell lies, Adonai detests men of blood and deceivers.” Yet, if we look closely, David is simply drawing a contrast. God still does not take pleasure in wickedness. Adonai still hates evil. Yahoshua, didn’t come to die in order for humanity to practice such things. He came as He declared to Pilate, “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” In Yahoshua’s prayer in John 17:17 He declares, “Sanctify them by Your Truth, Your Word is Truth.”

“But I can enter Your house because of Your great grace and love;” David jumps right back into the contrast, those outside of God’s instruction, the wicked are detestable. And those, like David, who have a heart after God’s instruction, enter the house of Adonai because God is rich in mercy, grace, and love; towards those who walk according to His instruction. When those seeking after Gods righteousness enter His presence what does a grateful heart do? “I will bow down toward Your holy Temple in reverence for You.”

The walk isn’t easy. The world is full of distractions and even those with seemingly good intentions can be distractions. Therefore David asks, “Lead me, Adonai, in Your righteousness because of those lying in wait for me; make Your way straight before me. For in their mouths there is nothing sincere, within them are calamities, their throats are open tombs, they flatter with their tongues. God, declare them guilty! Let them fall through their own intrigues, for their many crimes, throw them down; since they have rebelled against You.” The word here for righteousness is צְדָקָה tsᵉdâqâh and it literally means, right actions. So David is saying, ‘Lead me, Adonai, in Your right actions.’ With what David follows up with quiet clearly David is asking God to help him walk in the light of Gods Torah (instruction).

Is David without hope for the lost? Absolutely not. For he closes his Psalm with these words; “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice, let them forever shout for joy! Shelter them; and they will be glad, those who love Your name. For You, Adonai, bless the righteous; You surround them with favor like a shield.” Here David uses the word צַדִּיק tsaddîyq, for righteous. This word means, lawful. David is saying, ‘bless those who are lawful, those keeping Your instruction, who are walking in righteousness, the light of Gods Torah (instruction).

Yahoshua, makes the same plea in His prayer found in John 17. “I made Your name known to the people You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” What is the Fathers word? It is the Torah, and it is Yahoshua, who is the Word made flesh. Yahoshua didn’t come to contradict the Fathers instruction but to bring it to life through action.

Yahoshua later in this same prayer says; “They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth–Your word is truth. Just as You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. On their behalf I am setting Myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the truth.” Holiness, ἁγιάζω hagiazō, is set apart, sanctified, consecrated for a purpose. Yahoshua is saying He has lived out the instruction of the Father. He set Himself apart from the world, that is living in rebellion, and He is now praying that those who are of the Way. That we also would be set apart to live out the instruction of the Father.

Let me wrap this up with this; “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in Me because of their word, that they may all be one. Just as You, Father, are untied with Me and I with You. I pray that they may be untied with Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Yahoshua only did what the Father said, He lived out the Torah. He is saying that He wants us, His disciples to live in the same manner. Not living and doing and being as the world but living as a light (examples of Gods instruction), being imitators of Messiah, doing the acts of righteousness found in Gods instruction (Torah). This is the Way of the Rabbi, to follow His instruction. What does that mean? Follow for more or simply peak into the archives if you are wanting to be imitators of Messiah as the Word calls us to be.

You are loved,
cj

Living Life His Way: A Perspective on Faith

Living Life His Way: A Perspective on Faith

In the end, when the time has come, for the final curtain, will it be said, “I did it, His way?” Unfortunately, for many and even myself, on more occasions than I would like, like many we do things “our way.” Like the famous song sung by many and introduced by Frank Sinatra, “I did it myyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyy.” The more I learn and grow and discern truth in Scripture, it becomes glaringly more clear, His Way is constantly under attack.

There is a certain amount of pride that comes with the idea that we do things our way. Success feels good, as does rebellion in certain areas, power and control, is captivating. They say no one likes being told what to do. And there is some truth to that. Neither does anyone like to be under constant pressure to perform. So when you couple the idea that the Law is some sort of checklist that one must keep, it becomes less appealing. Especially, when it is put up next to a philosophy of do whatever you want.

However, most will agree that having certain parameters is necessary for a cohesive community. Now the debate begins, how far should those parameters reach? Who should get to dictate those boundaries? In today’s world regardless of where you live in it, you are living within the parameters of society. Those parameters are being established by governing bodies. The country you live in has laws that you must live under. This trickles down, State laws, city ordinances, even communities have bylaws dictated by HOA’s, work has codes of conduct even. In fact the home you live in with your family has unspoken rules as well as established understandings. Without the rule of law, there is chaos. Imagine six billion people all doing things their own way?

In the days Yahoshua (Jesus) walked to streets of Jerusalem He confronted a religious order. He did so on the premise of calling them out on their hypocrisy. Placing on the people a yoke none could bear. Taking the instruction of God and lacing it with human tradition and placing that tradition above the very Scriptures they taught. In the end causing the people undo hardship increasing the taxes levied, sacrifices required, offerings given, lining the pockets of the priests and religious counsels. Not much different than we see today in a lot of ways.

This verse in Acts 5 got me thinking: 39 “But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest you be found to fight against God.” Humanity will fight hard to keep their traditions. They will make excuses for it. Warp Scripture for it. Say it doesn’t matter in order to justify it. Rather than ask the question, “Is it of God?” If the answer is yes, then we better be found doing it, if the answer is no, we better weigh its consequences carefully. God left us with a pretty clear set of instructions, we better seek to understand them rather than make up our own.

The world is pulling for our attention in every–which–way possible. Human tradition, cultural tradition, family tradition, church tradition, individual tradition, are often at odds with God’s instruction. If we aligned ourselves with His ways we would find a set of traditions unparalleled in society. Leading to a genuine relationship with the Father based on Truth, His Word is Truth. John writes in the fifth chapter of his first epistle the following concerning Gods instructions.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

What does it mean to overcome the world? It is the same as overcoming the flesh. We are not to count ourselves as citizens of the world any longer, once we come to faith in Messiah. We are a new creation and therefore become representatives of that Kingdom. Paul to the Romans writes: 6:11: “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Messiah Yahoshua.” Later Paul writes: Romans 8:13: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

John defines sin this way in the third chapter of his first epistle, “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness (Torahlessness) as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness” (living outside of Torah, or Gods instruction). John continues to drive home a point that Paul was trying to make to the Romans. “But you know that Messiah appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.” These all seem quite inline and incredibly opposed to how modern christians live today. For many say that the commands of God have been done away with, or worse, they ignore the commands of God outright.

To the Galatians Paul writes: Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Paul goes on to contrast the flesh vs. the spirit and caps his thought with this: Galatians 5:24: “And those who belong to Messiah Yahoshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Man has been fighting God’s instruction from the beginning in an effort to do things on mans terms. It is the same lie whispered in the garden by the serpent, the devil himself. If Satan can get you to question God’s word then he has you right where he wants you.

Proverbs is a wisdom book. You probably have heard the expression “Ancient Chinese Proverbs”. Well, the same can be said of the book of Proverbs in the Tanakh. Hear now an Ancient Hebraic Proverb, “Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is detestable.” This wisdom and truth. Do not fall to the temptation to dismiss God’s instruction. His Torah is the guardrails that keep you on the path of life, to keep one in the Way. Yahoshua said to Pilate, “So then,” Pilate said to Him, “You are a king, after all.” Yahoshua answered, “You say I am a king. The reason I have been born, the reason I have come into the world, is to bear witness to the truth. Every one who belongs to the truth listens to me.” Shortly before this interaction, Yahoshua is praying in the garden, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”

As much as I like music and even some of the classics sung by Frank Sinatra, the one song that makes me cringe every time is the song, “My Way.” Because when my final curtain closes and this part of my life is over, I want others to see in my and to say of me, “he did it, HIS way!” That in spite of all his flaws, he was always growing, always learning, and always trying to walk the Way of the Rabbi. Here is a remastered version I could probably sing along to.

And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full
I’ve traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it HIS way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exception

I studied each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it HIS way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you know
That I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
Faith ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it HIS way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, no not me
I did it HIS way

For what is a man, what has he got
If not Gods Instruction, then he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And the words of one who kneels
The record shows HE took my blows
And I did it HIS way

You are loved,
cj

Navigating Life with Zeal and Purpose

Navigating Life with Zeal and Purpose

I am a learner. When people are teaching or I think they have knowledge that will help me, I listen. I don’t pretend to have all the answers or that I know everything. I will challenge someone and their thoughts if they are using passages out of context or making arguments for something with no new information than I already have. But I am teachable, if you are right I will prayerfully change my mind with new understanding. However, I am not one to be whisked away, blown about by every wind of doctrine or “new revelation” someone one has.

When in a teaching service I take notes. I have always taken notes. Something I learned from my jr. high camp counselor. I don’t remember much about him but I do know that I looked up to him, I admired him. So much so that when I saw him taking notes during chapel, I took notes during chapel. One thing that he told me was “write questions” if you want to learn, write down questions that stir in your mind as you listen. Then after, find the answers. This is how you grow.

This past Sabbath while I sat and listened my mind was full of questions. The first question that I wrote down was given by the Pastor. “Who are you a hero to?” I need to be totally honest here, although I was listening and relating to the message, many of my thoughts and attention were drawn to more and more questions. Some admittedly prompted by the message others prompted by the questions themselves.

This post is going to be different than the majority of my posts because I am going to ask you the questions I was prompted to write. I will include the answers that I wrote, even the partial answers, if I have them. I am still working through these thoughts, after all this was just yesterday that I wrote them down.

The message text was the Torah portion Numbers 25-29. The hero in the text is Phineas. The prompt, “Who are you a hero to?” My next note was ‘who do I want to be a hero for/to?’ This resinated with me because I have for much of my life had a hero complex. I wanted to be the hero. I tried to fix problems even if the person didn’t want me doing anything. My desire to be needed and a hero won out every time and it killed many relationships. Passion and zeal are a double-edged sword. You will either be admired or despised because of it.

David was passionate in many areas some good and some not so good, depending on human nature. In the end king David was said to have a heart after Gods own heart. That’s pretty high praise. David writes in Psalm 119:57, “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who forsake Your Torah!” The thing about David is in the end his desire was for what God desired. This puts into perspective the idea of being a hero and answers what being a hero looks like. The motivation is key, am I the motivation or is God the motivation?

What am I indignant about? Do I have a zeal and passion for Torah? Does it motivate me? Certainly, the majority of my posts since 2020 have revolved around being observant of Gods instruction rooted in the Tanakh. What stirs my passion and zeal in the Kingdom of God? Clearly, a desire for those who call themselves Christian to walk in the ancient paths. In life there are times when heroism is needed. A train is speeding down the rails and someone is stuck on the track. A hero is needed, get the person off the track! Someone is struggling in their understanding, struggling in a sin or rebellious spirit, instruct, persuade, but you cannot force someone. Let your own zeal and passion be a witness not the enforcer.

This begs the question: “What topics does one hear coming out of my mouth?” When in conversation am I joining in on the gossip? Am I adding to hurtful speech? What is my response to these things happening around me? It depends on the location, and the circumstances, as it does in most instances. In John 2 we read about Yahoshua’s visit to the Temple. “In the temple courts He found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.“

Time and place matter. Here in the above passage they are in the Temple. In the Torah, how we are to treat the Temple and use the Temple is explained in detail. They weren’t even close and Yahoshua acted on the zeal He had for His Father’s house. We read in Acts 21:20 that those coming to faith in Yahoshua, were, “all zealous for the Torah.” In a letter to Titus, Paul writes, “. . . who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every Torah-less deed, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

So what keeps me from being zealous today? What keeps me from observing Torah? Is it temptation, surely, the temptation of the flesh. As the Scriptures say, our spirit and our flesh are at odds. Do we give into the flesh? We shouldn’t. In fact we should do what we can to die to ourselves and put on the new man. For we are new creations in Messiah Yahoshua. Does that mean temptations stop, that the great seducer just stops whispering in our ear? Absolutely not, if anything he fights even harder. Therefore we must fight harder by surrendering to the will of God in Messiah Yahoshua. “If you love Me, obey My commandments.” This can be a fearful thing which brings us to another question.

What fears are keeping me down? For me right now I would say, fear of failure, fear of other’s opinions, doubt in myself, in my knowledge and ability. Even fear of and in my past failures. Are these fears stronger than my Messiah? “Fear not for I am with you.” That’s what Yahoshua says. So why am I running from my fears rather than chasing them off? “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.”

Who have we been made to be? Revelation 5:9-10 says; “. . . with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” We are in Messiah Yahoshua a kingdom of priests to serve our God! We are to lead others in honoring the Sabbath Day, the Feast Days, the Torah!

What legacy am I leaving for my children? What I hope is to leave them an example: Don’t be a simple follower of Yahoshua, but servant leaders. Love God, Love your neighbor. Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly. This is what I hope my kids see in me. When life knocks you down, when temptation grips your heart, when the spiritual battle around you seems too over whelming: “Trust in Adonai with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

You are loved,
cj

Podcast Episode: The Ancient Paths: Following God’s Word in Modern Times

Podcast Episode: The Ancient Paths: Following God’s Word in Modern Times

Pip: There is a woman in a crowd who interrupts a sermon to compliment the speaker's mother, and somehow that two-thousand-year-old moment becomes the sharpest possible diagnosis of where religious attention goes wrong. That is the kind of move cj makes on The Way of the Rabbi.

Mara: This episode follows one extended argument about obedience, distraction, and what it actually means to believe — tracing from the Gospels through the Torah and back to a crossroads in Jeremiah. Let's start with the ancient paths themselves.

The Ancient Paths: Hearing, Believing, Doing

Pip: The post opens with a scene most readers would gloss over — a woman in the crowd praising the mother of Yahoshua — and uses it to ask a harder question: what pulls our attention away from the instruction itself and toward the person delivering it?

Mara: The anchor is Luke 11:28, and the post frames it as a corrective: "blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it." That word "keep" is doing real work here, and the post unpacks exactly why.

Pip: The upshot is that hearing alone is not enough. The post argues that Yahoshua is consistently calling people back to active obedience — not passive acknowledgment — and that the distractions are everywhere, from elevated figures to misread letters.

Mara: The linguistic argument is where this gets precise. The Aramaic word for "believe" used by Yahoshua is "haymen," rooted in the Hebrew "aman" — the same root that gives us "amen." The post defines it plainly: "to support, prop up, or make firm. It is NOT passive, rather it is indeed, active."

Pip: So when Yahoshua says "believe," he is not describing a feeling. He is describing something you do with your feet.

Mara: Exactly, and the post applies that reading across several passages in John — 6:29, 6:38 through 40, and 6:47 — each time returning to the same Aramaic root to make the case consistent. The companion piece, Understanding Faith Beyond Faith and Action, develops this thread further for readers who want to stay in it.

Pip: The Jeremiah crossroads image is where it lands — stand at the ancient paths, ask which is the good way, take it. The post notes the answer given in Jeremiah is not a triumphant yes. It is "We will not take it."

Mara: And that refusal is what the post calls the real distraction: not wickedness in some dramatic sense, but simply declining to seek the instruction and walk in it.

Pip: A crowd shouts praise at the wrong thing, and the Teacher redirects to the Word. That tension has not resolved in two thousand years.

Mara: More to come from The Way of the Rabbi — same crossroads, next episode.