Weekly Parasha: Parasha Emor (Say)

From Rabbi Jack...

I do not know; maybe it is only happening with us in Kenya, but I sense a demonic spirit of the lack of commitment, lack of caring and total complacency among God's children. Is it because we have lost sight of the reality that one day every one of us is going to die and have to stand before God in judgement? It sure seems that way, so let me remind us:

1 Corinthians {3:1} Brothers, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Messiah. {3:2} I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. {3:3} You are still worldly….

1 Corinthians {3:11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Messiah Yeshua. {3:12} If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, {3:13} their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. {3:14} If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. {3:15} If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Like it or not we are all going to face death, it is inevitable, none of us are leaving this earth alive! Seeing that this is a fixed reality, is it not reasonable that we should all prepare ourselves for the inevitable, now? We buy life insurance and we buy burial plots in advance knowing that one day we will die, but how many of us prepare our spirits and souls for death?

Ellen and I have been to houses of mourning where people remark on how nice the funeral service was, how well the preacher and people who gave a word spoke of the deceased and how many friends attended ("The hall was full," they say). But the reality is, it is not how great our sendoff was here on earth, it is how we are welcomed into heaven after death that matters. The lack of commitment, lack of caring and total complacency while we were alive here on earth will not cut it with God when we stand before Him in heaven!

Hebrews {12:27} Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. {12:28} Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. {12:29} For our God is a consuming fire.

From Ellen...

Hi Ellen here…It is on my heart to deliver to you all today something we already know. Read with me in Ephesians 2.8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Sometimes as believers in Messiah Yeshua we lose sight of the glorious encounter we had at the time of salvation …we become entangled in teachings and instructions of man and not of God. God is simple, God is basic and God will never lead you astray but sometimes we all need to go back to basics. There are many cliches, sayings in the West that many of our African family may not apply as Jack and I do, but here goes anyway… "The World Owes Me A Living:" Not so, no one owes us anything. "Keeping up with the Joneses:" Do we really need all the things in our lives that others have? Are we looking at the house across the street and lusting for it while sitting warm and protected in what we already have…I am not going to go on because I think we all know what is being said here? God has a free gift for all of us, no charge, no work, no lusting…only faith in His grace which is sufficient for us. Stop thinking that; "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence" and start looking up! Rid yourself of anger, jealousy, anxiety, revenge and receive His embrace of forgiveness and most of all His unconditional love. This is the time of your salvation, hallelujah!

Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

Rabbi Jack & Ellen