Kedoshim or holy ones, is the title of this week’s parsha. For many, this concept is hard to attain. We try our best to be holy, but yet find ourselves lacking due to our sinful human nature and DNA. So why even try to be holy?
he instructions found in this week’s Torah study, including Ezekiel, and portions from Romans, Hebrews, and Galatians are rich in their instruction and understanding. At first glance, I was thinking, “Where can we possibly begin?” One would need a few months to dig deep into Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. But in their meaning of “after death” and “holy ones,” I was drawn to a common thread that I believe needs our attention. That theme centers around defilement and the call for us to come out of her. The question is, “How can we?”
The feast week of Unleavened is my favorite time of the year. I always look forward to my wife’s flatbread, made with freshly ground wheat, white beans, oil, water, salt, honey, and a few herbs. I love to toast it, then spread it with butter and salt. Baking flatbread with my favorite pizza toppings is amazing. It’s great with peanut butter and applesauce or jam. Above all else, I love to roll it up with avocado, hummus, peppers, lettuce, tomato, and dressing. Flatbread makes me feel awesome and when the feast cycle ends, I wonder why I don’t eat unleavened all year long.
For many of us, The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened season is a time of reflection. We repeat the story of preparing for the Exodus, protecting our homes with the blood of the Lamb, giving our leaven a rest, and partaking in the Body of Messiah. We remind ourselves what this time is about and what it must have felt like so that we will never forget the Mighty Hand of YHWH.
How often do we think of fear being the concept of losing control? In our sinful state, loss of control means loss of power or direction. Sometimes fear is obvious due to an immediate threat to our lives. But at other times, fear is directed by past events or emotions that have caused us to put up walls to control who we identify ourselves to be. Either type of fear can spill over to others in how we react or communicate with them as well as ourselves.
So, here is the question: “If you are required to not have any yeast in your home for the feast of Unleavened, do you throw out the bowl?” I believe we might find answers in the study of Shemini.
Have you ever wondered how many of us would care to have our sin(s) be made known publicly? I would dare say not too many. It would be a humbling experience. A few years back, songwriter Ray Stevens wrote a tune called, “The Day the Squirrel Went to Church.” It was a humorous tale of a squirrel who got loose in a church causing the “saints” to stand up and confess their sins when the little fella ran up pantlegs and dresses. Needless to say, equal footing among sinners suddenly became well-known.
The Torah portion called Pekudei, means a “sum of account.” Upon reading this portion, the sum of the account is the completion of the sanctuary for which Yahweh would reside. How does Pekudei relate to our personal body, family, and fellowship temple? Let’s take a look.
Back in high school, I made a poor decision. A friend of mine wanted me to smoke some “weed” with him. Being naïve, I went along with it but was not too happy with my decision the next day. My misstep could have caused me to lose my position as student body President and even be kicked out of school. Fortunately, a friend of mine confided in one of the teachers who called me into his office. Upon hearing my story, he chose to keep my lack of judgment confidential as long as I would not do it again. In short, “my sin” became hidden from the public, but remained very apparent between the teacher and me.
The word sealed in the New Testament comes from a Greek word that means “to stamp with a private mark” in the interest of keeping something secret or protected. In these last days, we are told that those who follow YHVH will be sealed. Will we know the identity of those sealed? Will we be the ones protected?
Have you ever had a person in your life that you would do anything for them? Maybe you feel that way because they were there for you at your most vulnerable moment. Maybe they are a person who knows you better than anyone else. Maybe they rescued you from a catastrophe. Or maybe you just fell in love with them. The point is, that you would fly anywhere, give any amount, or support them in any way possible to show your love and devotion.
This week, I would like to draw attention to the revealing of the Messiah to Moses, the Sons of Israel, as well as the disciples and followers of Yahshua, by just listing a few Biblical verses. I want to challenge you to look at them closely to see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you.
I’ve always disliked the notion of being “perfect” so that others might think I am a good person. To me, this was sort of a lie. How can I be perfect if my very nature is corrupted? Like many of you, I still have to deal with my private self, which I know is not so great. But yet, Yahshua made the command in Matthew for us to be salt of the earth and a light to the world.
“Shining before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify the Father to all who are in the house.” Matthew 5:13-16
So, if I am not so perfect, how do I show good works and how can I draw others to the Father?
I have been asked how to communicate with friends or family over faith issues countless times. Typically, those asking are excited about what the Lord has done for them or about new information they have found in Scripture. But when they approach people with new insights, they become discouraged because their words are rejected. So how do we talk about spiritual topics, especially when the topics seem to contradict each other?
After some 15 years, I still remember some amazing words given to me from my master teacher while completing certification in Life Coaching. He stressed the idea that we should always pay attention to circumstances given to us, in that these very circumstances are God’s way of drawing our attention to our own “challenges.” He went on to clarify that when our issues are addressed, we will be better equipped to coach others. How true!
If you are a person looking to apply your spiritual gifts towards a “job” in these crazy times, I believe you can find some astonishing answers in the study Vaera, if we just take the time to look.
While in Florida, I witnessed a little girl crying uncontrollably. She was yelling and screaming because her parents wanted her to stop playing so that they could all eat dinner. Even though they tried to remind her about her hunger, she wouldn’t listen, because she wanted “to play.” She didn’t even notice that the rest of the family was being served food. Her father finally got her attention by holding her. Upon quieting down, she noticed everyone else was eating. With a deep breath and a newfound calmness, she stated with all three years of her childhood wisdom, “I’m having a hard time.” Her father agreed with her and then asked her if she was ready to eat. Her answer? “Yes.”
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