Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, April 9, 2022
Shabbat Shalom,
Growing in Love for God 11
by David Harwood
Human holiness is expressed in our love for God. Our growth in holiness is dependent upon our love for God. العاب مباشره The epitome of holiness is the fulfillment of the command to love Adonai our God with all we are and all we have. This is something we grow in from the foundation of our being born from above.
When we are cleansed with the Messiah’s blood and sealed with the Ruach at salvation we are immediately sanctified. This is a foundational, extraordinary degree of holiness. We have been set apart through the blood and the Ruach.
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, set apart by the Ruach for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Yeshua the Messiah: (1 Peter 1:2a TLV)
We were once similar to empty unclean vessels. Through the Ruach’s presence we become cleansed clay jars filled with an inexpressible treasure.
but you were washed, you were made holy, you were set right in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and by the Ruach of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11b TLV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7a TLV)
We now have a holy relationship with the Holy One.
And we know that Ben-Elohim has come and given us insight, so that we may know Him who is true—and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Yeshua the Messiah. This One is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 TLV)
As we maintain this relationship we grow in holiness. This is called :progressive sanctification.”
… keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. (2 Peter 3:18a TLV)
Sometimes these are seasons of intensified, life changing, sanctification. These seasons may be inaugurated through transformative encounters with the Ruach ha-Kodesh. Such profound interactions can be in conjunction with, or independent of, crises. This can be illustrated by the history of when Isaiah was cleansed. ماهو الرهان
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7He touched my mouth with it and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips. Your iniquity is taken away, and your sins atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:6–7 TLV)
Now that was an unusual experience of immediate sanctification. Most never have this type of thing happen to them, however, they continue to grow in their love relationship with God. Growing in that relationship with Him is the point of our salvation.
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah, the One You sent. (John 17:3 TLV)
Even if there is a powerful Ruach-given impartation of holiness one still has to steward what is received. Holiness is always progressive. We grow from glory to glory.
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLV)
At its heart, all of this is relational. All sanctification is immediately and ultimately relational. Holiness is always manifest in love for God.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. (1 Corinthians 8:3 TLV)
We are called and commanded to love Adonai our God. Without God’s help to do this we’d be helpless. However, we have His enabling favor (grace) at work within us. He writes His Torah on our hearts and nothing is too difficult for Him.
Ah, my Lord Adonai! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm—nothing is too hard for You! (Jeremiah 32:17 TLV)
He is the Creator. In the light of that we can ask for a renewed act of creation.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:12 TLV)
One way He does this is by winning our hearts. To what length would the King of Glory go to capture our deepest affections? To what depth? We need look no further than God Incarnate’s crucifixion. To have our heart stirred towards God we can choose to look further into this marvel of love manifest in ultimate humility.
Our next meditation will attempt to present more aspects of God’s glory and His humility. بيان ماتش
Meanwhile, ask God to reveal Himself through the Ruach ha-Kodesh. As He does you will grow in love motivated by His holiness, and holiness motivated by your love.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 09-Apr-2022 8th of Nisan, 5782 Parashat Metzora
Shabbat HaGadol
Le 15:29-33 Mal 3:4-4:6 [3:24] Luke 1:13-17; 76-80