April 2, 2024

But the greatest of these [faith, hope, love] is love... Yet faith working through love must have some kind of observable product… you think? James, the half-brother of Yeshua, tells us faith without works is dead, jam 2:20 nkjv   I think Paul in gal 5:6  above, was trying to keep new believers from being intimidated by harsh “law keepers,” teaching that unless they were like them… they could not be “____,” you can fill in the blank [whatever satisfies the code masters requirement to be accepted]. Remember, that Yeshua’s most argumentive and condemning antagonizers were the “legalist churchmen” of that time. I think there are many variations of this same hypocrisy in our modern religious camps.

I think the average person, unless born again and well influenced by the truth in Yahweh's Word, can be easily led and manipulated due to the underlying evil spiritual nature that we are born with… tragically, the devil has lots of raw material to work with in most of us… Only Yahweh’s way can clean us up. I think many religious institutions throughout history have had too many hierarchical leaders that could be what Jeremiah called false shepherds (ezk chapter 34). In short, Jeremiah tells of the false shepherds that fed off of the sheep instead of feeding them what Yahweh instructed them. He tells of the fate of the evil shepherds and how he will establish a true shepherd to care for His people… I think too many today have been fleeced by charlatan shepherds and carnal religious doctrine… because no true Word of the LORD has been faithfully given them, they are ragged and poor and mangy, spiritually, as Jeremiah defines.

What then is the difference between carnal religion and true Spiritual faith building teaching from Yahweh's Word? First, one is spiritually internalized truth that builds faith and produces the “works of faith,” [the fruit of the Spirit]. The malnourished and deceived socialized contemporary “last days” religious masses [later to become the persecutors of the real faithful], think they are clothed, but they are “naked,” as Yeshua said to the Laodicean church:

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” rev 3:16-18 nkjv

Nothing has changed since Paul’s time, and since Yeshua spoke these words to John on the Isle of Patmos… but here is the main point of this devotional; Faith working through love, as said in the heading Scripture, dose have observable products:

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” gal 5:22-23 nkjv

I think its notable that “fruit” comes from seed… And always, the kind of fruit is fully dependent upon what is in the seed, as Genesis 1:12  tells us. Yeshua referred to the Word of Yahweh as the “seed” that the sower went out to sew (mat. chapt 13)… and depending upon the condition of the “soil” [heart in this parable] and the recipient’s handling, the result was proven. Note carefully, corrupt seed will also yield after its own kind… and especially note that the soil will try as hard to grow corrupt seed as it will good seed… think about that. Clearly you must be very careful what “seed” you allow into your heart [mind]… “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” prov 23:7 nkjv

In my lifetime, as an observation from my study of the Bible, and from my hands on experience with trying to live the right way with regard to Yahweh’s expectations of me, I have stumbled, staggered and fumbled my way to where I am today… not yet perfected and with no claim of superiority over others… just thankful that I have a peace and confidence that whatever else I need “adjusted,” that Yahweh’s faithfulness will make the needed fixes… until I stand before Him face to face, with Yeshua’s advocacy saving me from my otherwise certain banishment from Divine presence.

While thinking about the season, Passover, the Lamb slain, death defeated by the Resurrected Yeshua, and the divine outpouring of His Holy Spirit a few weeks later, I came across an article that I think is outstanding… [see article here] I hope it can inspire you too; we are all at different places along our pathway to the celestial city… Remember David said,

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Ps 27:13-14 nkjv

Shalom, John