With Messiah I Have Been Crucified

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Kevin in Exhortations.

The challenge to live the Messianic life is not unique to our day and age—in fact, the obstacles of life that cloud our understanding of the ways of God have proven to be a formidable foe since the beginning.

To the believers of Galatia, who were trapped by their own doctrines and misconceptions about the Messianic life, Paul wrote,

“With Messiah I have been crucified, and no more do I live, but Messiah lives in me; and that which I now live in the body, I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me…” Galatians 2:20

This is the foundational truth of the Messianic life, without which we have no hope: our life is no more—it is the life of Messiah we now live.  When we think and act contrary to who Messiah is, we are living contrary to who we truly are.  We live the Messianic life by thinking as the Master thought, walking as the Master walked, and completely laying down our lives for the Father’s service… just as the Son laid down His life for us.

Like the believers in Galatia, each one of us sees life through the filter of our own personal opinions and experiences.  As disciples of Messiah, however, we need to come to a place where we are willing to set aside our opinions and experiences—even the ones we really like and that seem to be working for us—if they do not line up with the life of Messiah and the Word of God.  If we remain in opposition to the Word, living according to our own desires and ways of doing things, we will be hindered in our ability to become the effective disciples of Messiah that we were remade to be—we will be unable to live the Messianic life.

When we choose God and neighbor over self, we are choosing to live the Messianic life.  It is the most selfless life imaginable, and yet its rewards are without measure.  “For you died, and your life has been hidden with the Messiah in God.  When the Messiah—our life—is revealed, then we,too, will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4).  If we are to truly be Messiah’s disciples, this is the life we must choose today—a life that is totally and completely “sold-out” to the Master… a life wholeheartedly devoted only to Yeshua.

The above was excerpted from my book, “Being a Disciple of Messiah”.

I invite you to share your thoughts on this subject, below.

Would You Still Praise Him, If…?

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Kevin in Exhortations.

I always have mixed emotions about Thanksgiving, because on the one hand, at its heart are two of my most favorite things: family and food! But on the other hand, it not only signals the beginning of the commercial winter holiday season (in which we are bombarded by merchandising and inducements to unnecessarily part with our finances), but, to a degree, it’s not really my holiday. I am only a second-generation American-born Jew, so before WWII, my ancestors knew nothing of the American Thanksgiving holiday (though it is indirectly related to our own Autumn Feast, Sukot). So, while I enjoy Thanksgiving on a familial, individual, and American level (because I am very thankful indeed for this country), it also reminds me that I—as my ancestors have been for centuries—am a stranger in a strange land… a man caught between worlds. (more…)

Making Disciplnals

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Kevin in Exhortations.

Please believe I am not bragging when I say that for many years now, people from all over the world have found the Messianic devotionals I have written to be helpful and inspiring for their daily walk in Yeshua. I give all glory and praise to Adonai for this, because whatever encouragement or insight I have to offer, it is only because I have gained it (usually the hard way!) by His loving and compassionate hand.

Yet, I mention this not to call attention to myself or the character of the devotionals, but to point out the fact that we as believers in Yeshua primarily seek information and inspiration for one purpose: self-edification. While I am personally pleased that my writings have been edifying for so many, the purpose of the devotionals (as well as everything produced through Perfect Word) has never been for self-edification, but always for discipleship—the means by which we first become edified, then multiply that edification by passing it on to others. This, however, is not the way most of us approach a “devotional” or any other kind of spiritual experience—rather, it is generally with the intent to focus ourselves on the Master and increase our devotion to Him.

Such goals are in no way wrong. On the contrary, in a world that is constantly trying to steal our focus away from God, we need to use every means possible to keep our hearts and minds dedicated and devoted to Him. Where we do go wrong, however, is that we tend to stop there, feeding only ourselves, and forgetting the most important reason to increase our own devotion: everyone else. Indeed, the walk we walk in Messiah is ultimately not for our own benefit; rather, “Let no one seek [good for] himself, but each [one for] another’s.” (1Co. 10:24) (more…)

Living Abundantly in Difficult Times

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Kevin in Exhortations.

Over the past weeks and months, I have been praying earnestly for you—asking the Lord to guide you, and provide for all your many needs. While in the midst of seeking His face, I felt impressed to offer you the one thing I know you need: encouragement. Yet somehow, “Hang in there, it’s going to be okay,” and “Don’t worry, you’ll get through this,” and “Have faith—all things are possible with God” just don’t seem to suffice. Instead, I feel compelled to be somewhat more substantive in my exhortation, and bring you a heartening, yet challenging word.

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems as if we members of the Body are as concerned with worldly things as those who are of the world. We’re rocked by an unexpected turn of events; we worry about our health, wealth and happiness. Some of us feed that anxiety by obsessively following the daily news; some of us put our heads in the sand and pretend that everything is going along just fine. But what most of us often forget—or only acknowledge intellectually without action based in faith—is that what is happening around us really doesn’t matter… what matters is whether or not we are living for Yeshua. Whether we are being forcefully evicted from our homes, or rushing our deathly ill child to the hospital, or buying a morsel of food with the very last dollar in our pocket, we have a choice. Do we become caught up in the moment and react out of fear, or do we face reality with a conviction of spirit and a heart fortified toward God?

(more…)