IYAR 23
Cop-Out
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep
(OBEY) My commands.” (John 14:15 AMPC, emphasis mine)
When my husband
and I were first starting out in our Torah walk, we would watch different
Messianic ministers to ‘see’ who was who, and try to determine who we could
follow. During that time period, I can
recall being ‘pulled up short’ by a statement that I heard during a particular
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 (Strong’s H8451) means instruction, direction, or a set of instructions, such as is found in the first five books of the Tanakh (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 ‘doctrinal statement’, express the belief that it is now considered grace to pick and choose which commandments are applicable for our present day world, this is 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 “the outsider within your town gates—so they may hear and so they may learn, and they will fear Adonai your God and take care to do all the words of this Torah.” (Deu 31:12. See also Ex 12:49). This provision was made for all those who were not the direct descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, yet desired to serve 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 His disciples; should we not also follow their example in this?
To use the ‘grace’, favor and mercy of Elohim as an excuse for disobedience is nothing by self-justification, and finds its roots in arrogance and pride. What this basically is saying is that we believe we are too good to have to keep ALL 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)
Alvinu, Malkenu, our Father, our King, 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, just who You
are. AMEIN!
©2022
[1] Ralph Messer, Simchat Torah
Beit Midrash, Englewood, Colorado
[2] ©Carmen Welker,
www.therefinersfire.org
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