Most of the 10 commandments are reasonably accepted as part of a civil society and the concepts have been built into the rule of law of Western society. But the Sabbath is a law that gets in the way. The prophet Amos brings that attitude to our attention. “Saying: when will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat?” (Amos 8:5). The Sabbath got in the way of their all-important personal activities. The seventh day needs to be important to God’s … [Read more...] about Sabbath Sanctity
Feasts of God
3-D Sabbath
One of the pillars of our calling is the Sabbath day and failing to keep it can pave the way to losing our identity. Let’s look at three important dimensions of the Sabbath. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28). Not only is this an encouraging verse, it also helps us to understand a deeper dimension of the Sabbath. We know from 1 John 5:3 that the love of God is, “...that we keep His … [Read more...] about 3-D Sabbath
What is Human Greatness?
What is human greatness to you? What sort of definition comes to your mind when you think of someone being “great”? Some might think of personality, intellect, wealth or physical prowess as something that sets someone in the realm of the “great.” Obvious and publicized accomplishments that make one’s name widely recognized would surely be markers of greatness. Alexander the Great conquered all the known world by the age of 33. Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents for his many inventions in … [Read more...] about What is Human Greatness?
God’s Goyim
There are numerous words that we use in our daily vocabulary that have changed meaning over the years. Have we allowed ourselves to appropriate a meaning to the word “Gentile” that was not intended? In Galatians, the second chapter we see Paul giving the account of Peter’s example as a Jew when he separated himself from the Gentiles fearing what other Jews would think. The Jews regarded Gentiles as inferior. Easton’s Bible Dictionary states the definition of "Gentile" as (Hebrew, usually in … [Read more...] about God’s Goyim
Expressions of Tribalism
It is difficult to escape the feeling that our world is becoming more divided by the day. For example, we are hearing more about political identity. While it has been quite customary to identify with some political party in terms of general policy, the term has now developed a sharper edge. Amy Chua writing in The Guardian newspaper notes: “When groups feel threatened, they retreat into tribalism. When groups feel mistreated and disrespected, they close ranks and become more insular, more … [Read more...] about Expressions of Tribalism
Our Brother’s Keeper
The Day of Atonement focuses on removing Satan’s influence, covering sin and restoring a relationship between the Father and mankind, ultimately reaching out to the entire creation. Have we stopped to consider what our role is in this restorative process? Exodus 32 tells the familiar story of Israel’s rebellion, worship of the golden calf, and God’s anger. But let’s look closely at the reaction of Moses, after God states His intention to destroy the Israelites and offers to make an entire … [Read more...] about Our Brother’s Keeper
Holy Days Pinpoint Priorities
The world has become a decidedly edgy place. There is tension and anxiety in the air. This is particularly observable in the political arena - especially in the realm of international relations. If we look at just one marker – political elections – the unease is clearly evident. In reaction to the developing of negative social conditions, there is often a trend to turn to “hard-line” leadership in the search for remedies. In Europe, and Germany in particular, the current leadership has suffered … [Read more...] about Holy Days Pinpoint Priorities