“Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14
There are few who find it? We are meant to be set apart from the world. Kadosh (Hebrew) and Hagios (Greek) are the words that translate to Holy in our English vernacular… but more directly, they mean “Set Apart.” We are to be set apart from the world.
MAN’S TRADITIONS or THE MOST HIGH’S TRUTH?
Yahusha (Jesus) said…
“And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men. Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men.” – Mark 7:7-8
Why do we hold fast to the traditions of men? Why do we set up for ourselves traditions that forsake the commands of our Father? Perhaps we don’t even realize some of these traditions that have been so engrained into our lives. Many people go to church and listen to a teacher but hardly crack open their Bible to see if it is truth or tradition. Much of it is difficult to discern if you aren’t actively searching.
Yahuah (the Father) began to open my eyes years ago as I noticed that we hold fast to holidays that don’t belong in our faith. I don’t know any serious Bible scholars who believe that Yahusha was born on December 25. And our modern celebration of Easter is only loosely tied to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Messiah. Trees, bunnies, chocolates, egg hunts, mistletoe, lights, and other traditions have become part of our lives during these times. But they don’t belong. And I would suggest that most pastors and teachers who do know the truth are too worried about what their congregations would do if they stopped celebrating these unbiblical holidays.
There are seven biblical holidays that are commanded as everlasting, to be kept forever in our generations. But for some reason the institutional church ignores them all. But Yahuah instituted them as “a law forever,” (Leviticus 23:14, 31, 41).
Yahusha died on the Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread, rose on First Fruits. The Set-Apart Spirit filled the men who were purposely gathered to observe Shavuot (or Pentecost). The holidays, or more appropriately, the Appointed Times, do matter. They aren’t just for one people group. Yahuah calls them HIS Appointed Times.
“The appointed times of Yahuah, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My Appointed Times, are these.” – Leviticus 23:2
DO YOU LOOK LIKE MESSIAH?
We are told to imitate Yahusha, our Messiah, who was a Hebrew from the tribe of Yehudah (Judah). He was a sabbath-keeping, feast-observing, clean-eating, tzitzit-wearing Hebrew. We have one example of someone perfectly following Yahuah…yet we often do the exact opposite of Him. Does your walk look like our Messiah’s?
“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.” – 1 John 2:5-6
KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS?
Do you keep the commandments? Do you want to be obedient to Him, or follow the traditions of men? There are discrepancies in what the institutional church teaches versus what the Scriptures say. The Most High gave us commandments that are important for all believers. His Torah, which we often translate as “law”, but more appropriately mean “instructions,” are a guideline for those who claim the faith.
And we know from Malachi 3:6 that “Yahuah does not change.”
His commandments (the Torah), are instructions for righteous living, and are as relevant now as they were thousands of years ago. But that view doesn’t go along with the popular dispensationalist narrative teaching that Yahuah deals with us differently.
We know that His law is both eternal and true.
“Your righteousness is righteousness FOREVER, and your TORAH is truth.” – Psalm 119:142
Denominational doctrines and traditions of men are difficult to shake. It is difficult to get on the narrow path when much of the world walks the broad road. Perhaps the most difficult thing is dealing with family and friends that might not be ready to listen or learn. They are quick to argue but haven’t even opened up the Scriptures to see if such things be true. But to seek truth is important. Scripture reminds us that we have a burden and responsibility to search truth.
“It is the glory of Yahuah to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.” – Proverbs 25:2
Was Paul thinking of this proverb when he spoke of the nobility of the Bereans?
“Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonike, who received the word with great eagerness, and searched the Scriptures daily, if these words were so.” – Acts 17:11
The way is indeed narrow that leads to everlasting life. And if you are earnest and diligent in your faith, Yahuah will open your eyes to His Truth! It is a tall order. We are overrun by denominational doctrine that passes for truth. We have built up temples of tradition instead of truth. The devil likes a half-truth because it can masquerade as Yah’s Word.
YOUR TASK?
Your task today? Read Psalm 1. The VERY… FIRST… PSALM. Read it, meditate on it, pray over it. And let the Word of Yahuah guide you in all that you do, even if it goes against man’s doctrine. Then read Psalm 119. Or at least the first verse.
This age is ending. Our time is short. And for me and my family, at least, our faith walk is too important not to study and work out ourselves.
“But his delight in the Torah of Yahuah, and he meditates in His Torah day and night.” – Psalms 1:2
“Blessed are the perfect in the way, who walk in the Torah of Yahuah.” – Psalms 119:1
FAITH IN MOTION 