DO YOU PONDER YOUR STEPS?
Say to them, ‘As I live,’ swears Adonai Elohim, ‘I take no pleasure in having the wicked person die, but in having the wicked person turn from his way and live. So repent! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, house of Isra’el’?
Ezekiel 33:11 (Complete Jewish Bible)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16,17
When I was a young man, I was very impulsive; I did whatever was in my head. Obviously, this brought me a good deal of angst and trouble when I crossed the line, which, unfortunately, was often. I’ve already shared with you my experience of stealing, as a young boy. What I haven’t shared is my crashing a wedding reception in a very exquisite social club, somewhere in Muskoka. (I really can’t remember the location.) I went with a friend, who was less impulsive than I and felt very uneasy. I was totally pumped by this experience and enjoyed almost every minute. It wasn’t until just before the end of the reception that the rooster came home to roost and we were discovered. I didn’t learn until later that one of the wedding party knew my father and had seen me a number of times. He pulled me aside, as my friend had fled in great angst, and spoke sternly to me. He shared with me his reluctance to tell my father of my party-crashing, as he didn’t see it as a grave crime. However, he warned me I should leave immediately, as the club manager had called the police. Needless-to-say I hightailed it, fast! Now I know there are many people who scoff at this as really not a dangerous prank and you are probably right. However, anytime we cross the line, Adonai knows that and He makes note of that. At some point, when I leave this earth, I will need to account for all my infractions, no matter how small they may seem. How do we know this? In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Rav Sha’ul, the Apostle Paul advises us: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah. Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. But each one’s work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire — the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire. This may be seen as the heavenly consequences of our sins, which in Adonai’s eyes, are like grass or straw. However, all believers know we will not receive the punishment due these sins, as we are also told, in Romans 8:1,2 Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death. As we all know, Paul’s writing can be somewhat convoluted and difficult to understand. What Paul means by the Torah of the Spirit is the teaching which comes to us through the wisdom of the Ruach HaKadosh, the Holy Spirit of the Living God. The Spirit may speak to us directly, as a still, small voice in our heads, or through others, who also follow Adonai Yeshua’s path. Sometimes, the Spirit may also speak through non-believers, as we may infer from Ephesians 4:5,6 – And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all. And, what does Paul mean by the “Torah” of sin and death? This is another of his strange passages, which almost no other translations fully understand. Most translate this as law of sin and of death, as we see in Holman’s Complete Christian Bible. However, Torah does not mean ‘law’. It does mean teaching and instruction. Thus the “Torah” of sin and death actually means the instruction of sin and death, a completely different concept. This, then, tells us, when we are in Messiah, Adonai Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, the punishment for our sins is taken away, through His death and Resurrection. And, we are also told in Jeremiah 33:34, No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.” Beloved, with these great truths to support us, I urge you to follow His path throughout your life. But, be assured, should you slip to one side or the other, He will be there to support you and help you to regain your footing. CONSIDER: Do you have any doubt about whether Adonai will forgive you of your sins or remember them no more? Are you afraid the sin you committed yesterday or this morning will come back to haunt you? ACT: Please go into your Bible and read these and other passages, which are there to guide us throughout our journey. These are the words of our Lord and Father, who has inspired others to lead and guide us. PRAY: Abba B’Shamayim, Heavenly Father, I know you are guiding us along our life paths, through Your Blessed Holy Spirit. I praise Your Holy Name for being with all of us, who call upon Your Name and rely upon You, as we tred forward, through whatever lies in or on our paths. B’Shem Adonai Yeshua, Mashichainu. Amen
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you fully and richly.
