Iyar 17
Cop-Out
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep (OBEY) My commands.” (John 14:15 Amp, emphasis mine)
While listening to a Messianic Shabbat service many years ago, I recall being “pulled
up short” by a statement that I heard during the message: “We [the body of Messiah] have a greater addiction
to the lack of instruction [Torah]
than we do for instruction [Torah]”[1]. The gentleman speaking hit the nail on the
head. To re-phrase Mr. Messer’s
statement, many born-again believers in
Messiah Yeshua would prefer not to have anything to do with Torah (the Divine
instructions in righteous and moral living), or to even admitting that it is
relevant for today. Oh, shame, shame.
Torah means instruction, direction, or a set of
instructions, such as is found in the first five books of the Tanakh, otherwise
referred to as the “Old Testament”. Many
times all of God’s word is referred to
as Torah, for it is all His divine instructions, according to 2Tim 3:16. When an individual, or a “church’s doctrine”,
states it is now considered grace to
pick and choose which commandments are applicable for our present day world, this a “cop-out”, and is a perfect example
of the clay having a dispute with the potter over the potter’s wheel (Isa
29:13-16; Rom 9:20-21).
In the final chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses made it
clear that Torah was not only for the people of Israel, but also for “your
sojourner who is within your gates, so that they hear, and so that they learn
to fear יהוה your
Elohim and guard to do all the Words of this Torah.” (Deu 31:12). This provision was
made for all those who were not the direct
descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, yet desired to serve our Elohim, and
obey His divine instructions as given in the Torah. In fact, this provision includes us today,
those of us who are adopted and “grafted
in” to Israel (see Rom 11:17-21).
Messiah Yeshua did not come to abolish the Torah,
the instructions. He came to complete
them, fulfill them, “expand and magnify them to their full spiritual intent and
conclusion; to show their full meaning, purpose, and relevance”[2]. Yeshua Himself kept every aspect of the Torah, as did all of His disciples; should we
not also follow His example in this?
To use the “grace”, favor and mercy of Elohim as an
excuse for disobedience is absolutely a cop-out, and bluntly put, arrogant
pride. What this basically is saying is
that we believe we are too good to have to keep all of the “old” commandments, and that we no longer need to. Dangerous thinking.
“If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an
abomination.” (Pro 28:9
CJB)
“And by this we know that we
know Him, if we guard His commands. The one who says, “I know Him,” and does
not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of
Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. THE ONE WHO SAYS HE STAYS IN HIM OUGHT
HIMSELF ALSO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.” (1John
2:3-6 ISR, emphasis mine)
Holy,
Righteous Father, we repent of turning away from following Your commandments,
Your Torah, Your divine instructions
for righteous living that have never changed.
We yield, Master, and submit to Your Word. Thank You, ABBA Father, that as we are
cleansed by the washing of the water of Your Word, You change us from the
inside out, conforming us more and more into the image of Your Son, Yeshua, the
living Torah. Help us in our walk with You, as we learn
again from Your Torah, who You are. In
the Name above all names we pray, Yeshua of Nazareth, AMEIN!
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