For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)

A morning rant:

There sure is a lot of discussion over this and some of it seems almost hostile or perhaps I'm overly sensitive but when people make comments calling Christianity a “pagan religion”, I get a little put off. I do understand there has been a lot of error within the church over the centuries, mostly because it's composed of men who are  - after all – sinners, we have an enemy who wants to destroy us and a world that's trying to mold us into it's own likeness BUT I also see some error within the “messianic community” as well and I wish we could all just stop judging each other.

I have always been drawn toward my Hebraic roots – long before it became so popular and I really do appreciate all that I've learned and believe it has been of great benefit in my spiritual growth. As the saying goes - The New is in the Old Concealed, the Old is in the New Revealed – to really understand, you need both. Someone once said it's like walking into a dark room and turning on a light. I have found this to be true.

The problem for me is when I see something being added to the finished work of Christ – a belief in Jesus plus something. Is there benefit in observing Sabbath? Absolutely – it certainly demonstrates for us the blessing we have of being able to “rest in the Lord” but it is not necessary as a basis for my relationship with the Father. God's law has not changed, but how it is applied has – we are to love God and to love each other – and that has never changed - But we no longer have to do it through a sacrificial system – Christ took care of all that, He is the fulfillment and we can now rest in what He has done.

This does not mean that I can go out and do what ever I want – what motivates my actions is my love for the Father – and to seek to understand and live my life by His definition of what love is because that is Who He is.

One of the greatest gifts we now have is His Spirit, which is freely given to those who genuinely ask but the ability to know who is genuinely asking is not mine to judge. There are certain indicators but ultimately only the Father knows the heart. We are to love one another and leave the judging to God. So please stop calling me a “pagan” and I'll try to not imply that you are a judaizer – can we keep our eyes focused on Jesus/Yeshua and let Him complete the work He has begun in each us.

Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life. (Prov 4:23)

A number of years ago, I felt the Lord making this a lesson for me - that my tendency toward being a “people pleaser” was not healthy and I needed to establish boundaries.  I had to learn that just because someone is hurting it does not give them the right to hurt me in return.  As a follower of Jesus and a woman, there is this tendency to lay down your rights for another - to think more highly of others than yourself.  But there’s a right way of doing so and it involves the practice of humility while at the same time we are to guard our hearts.  You see, He has given me a new heart, a heart in which His Spirit dwells. It is very precious and needs to be cherished and protected.

I remember a picture which demonstrates what I’m trying to say.  There’s a person, on a hill, reaching down to help someone in a pit.  Unless that person who is reaching down is holding onto something (or Someone) the person in the pit will just pull them down with them.

There is this tension that exists and learning how to live in that tension is why I so desperately cling to Jesus.  He took on human flesh, became like us. Perfect in His humanity because He never let go of the Father.  His will, His purpose was that of the Father’s.  He reached out, continues to reach out, but never lets go of His identity with the Father. His heart was always the Father’s heart. And this is my desire - that the Father's heart would continue to dwell in me.