That Which Defiles

That Which Defiles

Scripture:
Mark 7:1–23; Matthew 15:1–14 (NIV)

As I revisited an old post from September 2023 — The Dogs — I found myself drawn back into the scene of that Gentile woman who crossed paths with Yeshua. At the time, I had learned how many Jews viewed Gentiles as spiritually unclean, even among the lowest in society. That memory led me to reread the full chapters surrounding that encounter, and what I found was striking: Yeshua had just finished rebuking the Pharisees.

In both Mark 7 and Matthew 15, the Pharisees confront Yeshua over ritual handwashing — not because God commanded it, but because it was part of the tradition of the elders. Their concern wasn’t about the heart; it was about appearance, conformity, and control. They had elevated human rules to the level of divine authority.

Yeshua’s response is sharp, but it is also revealing:

“These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.”

He exposes the danger of replacing God’s commands with human traditions — a danger that still reaches into our own lives. The Pharisees weren’t villains in their own eyes. They were middle‑class, respected, devout Jews who believed they were protecting holiness. Yet in their zeal, they had become blind to the very heart of God.

As I imagined those same Pharisees encountering the Gentile woman from my earlier post, something hit me:
How quickly we judge others. How easily we look down on people we think are “less than.”

The Pharisees would have dismissed her without a second thought. And if I’m honest, there are moments when I’ve done the same — moments when I’ve let assumptions, pride, or tradition shape my view of someone instead of compassion.

Yeshua, however, sees differently.
He sees the heart.
He sees faith where others see failure.
He sees worth where others see uncleanliness.

And He calls us to do the same.

Unity Series — Related Reflections

Exploring Scripture through compassion, calling, unity, and the heart of God.

• The Dogs — Faith from the Margins
  A Gentile woman’s bold faith reveals how God sees beyond status, culture, and expectation.
• Becoming One → Is It Possible?
  A reflection on unity as a divine calling, not merely an ideal — rooted in God’s own nature.
• Becoming One: The Flow of Giving Energy
  Exploring how unity grows when we give, serve, and pour into one another with God‑shaped love.
• God Will Be All in All
  A meditation on God’s ultimate purpose — restoring creation until His presence fills everything.
• The Acts Church: A Spirit‑Led Model
  What the early church teaches us about generosity, unity, and Spirit‑driven community.
• Created in God’s Image: Rethinking How We See Women
  A call to honor the dignity, purpose, and divine reflection present in every woman.
• Why We All Need Jesus
  A simple, heartfelt reminder that every one of us depends on the grace and mercy of Christ.

View all Unity Series posts →

Known From The Beginning

Known From the Beginning: Called, Given, and Drawn by the All‑Knowing Father

Father God’s all‑knowing nature is not a distant attribute—it is the foundation of His love. Scripture reveals a breathtaking pattern: the Father knows, the Father calls, the Father gives, the Father draws, and the Father keeps. Nothing about His saving work is random or reactive. It flows from eternal wisdom and eternal love.

The All‑Knowing Father

• Isaiah 46:10 — declaring the end from the beginning
• Psalm 139:1–4, 16 — known before we speak, before we live a single day
• Hebrews 4:13 — nothing hidden from His sight

Given by the Father

• John 6:37 — all the Father gives will come
• John 6:39 — none of those given will be lost
• John 17:6 — “Yours they were, and You gave them to Me”

Called by the Father

• Romans 8:29–30 — foreknown, called, justified, glorified
• 2 Timothy 1:9 — called before time began
• 1 Corinthians 1:9 — called into fellowship with His Son

Drawn by the Father

• John 6:44 — no one comes unless the Father draws
• Jeremiah 31:3 — drawn with everlasting love
• John 12:32 — Jesus drawing all through the cross

Chosen by the Father

• Ephesians 1:4 — chosen before the foundation of the world
• John 15:16 — “I chose you”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4 — chosen and confirmed by the Spirit

Known by the Father

• John 10:14 — “I know My sheep”
• 2 Timothy 2:19 — the Lord knows those who are His
• Psalm 1:6 — the Lord knows the way of the righteous

Kept by the Father

• John 10:29 — none can snatch from the Father’s hand
• Jude 1:1 — kept for Jesus Christ
• Psalm 121 — the Lord watches over you

Are All Called? And What Happens to Those Who Don’t Respond Now?

Scripture speaks of calling in two layers: a universal call that goes out to all people, and a personal, relational call rooted in the Father’s foreknowledge.

The Universal Call — God’s Invitation to All

• Acts 17:30 — God commands all people everywhere to repent
• Revelation 22:17 — whoever is thirsty may come
• 1 Timothy 2:4 — God desires all people to be saved
• 2 Peter 3:9 — not wishing that any should perish

The Personal Call — Those the Father Gives, Draws, and Knows

• John 6:37 — all the Father gives will come
• John 6:44 — no one comes unless the Father draws
• John 10:14 — “I know My sheep”

Does the Father Personally Call Everyone?

If the Father is all‑knowing, if His desire is for all to be saved, if Jesus draws all through the cross, if the gates of the New Jerusalem never close, and if the nations are healed, then the picture becomes clear:

The Father’s personal call ultimately reaches all people — even if not all respond in this life.

What Happens to Those Who Don’t Respond Now?

• Jeremiah 31:3 — God draws with everlasting love
• Luke 15 — the Shepherd seeks until He finds
• Revelation 21:25 — the gates of the Kingdom never close
• Revelation 22:2 — the nations are healed
• 1 Timothy 4:10 — Christ is the Savior of all

Nothing in Scripture suggests God stops calling, stops drawing, or stops loving.

The Arc of God’s All‑Knowing Love

God knows all. God calls all. God draws all. God desires all. God heals all. God restores all. God loses none.

This is biblical, covenantal restoration flowing from the heart of an all‑knowing Father.

Because the Father is all‑knowing, His calling, giving, drawing, choosing, and keeping are not reactions—they are expressions of eternal love.

About the Unity Series

The Unity Series explores God’s desire to bring all things together in Christ — healing division, restoring harmony, and revealing the divine oneness at the heart of Scripture. Each reflection invites us into deeper reconciliation, mercy, and spiritual awakening.

Explore More Unity Series Posts

• My Beliefs Have Changed — A reflection on spiritual transformation and how divine revelation reshapes understanding. Theme: Awakening, humility, and renewed vision.

• God’s New Kingdom — Exploring the prophetic promise of a kingdom built on justice, mercy, and unity. Theme: Covenant fulfillment and divine restoration.

• God’s Mercy and Judgment — How mercy and judgment flow together in the Father’s all‑knowing love. Theme: Balance of holiness and compassion.

• The Sign of Jonah — A meditation on repentance and resurrection as signs of divine pursuit. Theme: Renewal, calling, and reconciliation.

• The Father’s Heart of Unity — Tracing the thread of divine oneness across Scripture. Theme: Reconciliation and shared heritage.

• The Shepherd’s Voice — Listening for the call that gathers all nations into one fold. Theme: Guidance, belonging, and restoration.

• The Promise of Restoration — The Father’s plan to heal divisions and bring all creation into harmony. Theme: Hope, healing, and eternal purpose.

     Keywords: unity, oneness, reconciliation, Christ, spiritual growth, divine purpose, Scripture reflection

Unity Series: Becoming One in Spirit

Reflections on divine unity, covenant love, and reconciliation across Scripture — exploring how the all‑knowing Father calls, gives, draws, and restores His people.

Known From the Beginning: Called, Given, and Drawn by the All‑Knowing Father

The all‑knowing Father calls, gives, draws, and keeps His people with eternal love and purpose.

Unity in Mercy: The Father’s Heart Revealed

Exploring divine mercy as the bond of unity and the rhythm of reconciliation.

One Shepherd, One Flock: The Promise of Restoration

How the Shepherd gathers all nations into one fold under His eternal covenant.

“That they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You.” — John 17:21

Becoming One: The Flow of Giving Energy

📖 Scripture Focus

“Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 (ESV)

“The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one.”
John 17:22 (ESV)

🌤 Opening Reflection

Becoming one is not about losing ourselves — it is about discovering who we truly are when God’s love flows freely between us. Scripture calls us into a unity that mirrors the very heart of the Trinity: a shared life, a shared light, a shared energy.

Writers like those in The Celestine Prophecy describe this as the difference between giving energy and taking energy. And while the book is not Scripture, it names something Scripture has always taught: when we give life, we grow; when we take life, we shrink.

🔍 Insight or Revelation

1. Giving Energy: The Way of the Spirit

In The Celestine Prophecy, giving energy means offering presence, encouragement, attention, and love without demanding anything in return.

Scripture says the same thing in a deeper way:

• “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
• “Encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

When we give energy — blessing, listening, honoring — we participate in God’s own nature. The Holy Spirit is always a giver, never a taker. And when we give, we do not lose energy; we become vessels God fills again and again.

2. Taking Energy: The Way of the Flesh

Taking energy happens when we try to control, dominate, manipulate, or draw attention to ourselves. It is the opposite of love.

Scripture warns us:

• “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder.” (James 3:16)
• “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.” (Philippians 2:3)

Taking energy is rooted in fear — fear that we are not enough, fear that we won’t be seen, fear that we must grasp what God freely gives.

3. Becoming One: The Flow of Shared Light

Jesus prayed that we would be one, not by uniformity, but by shared glory — His glory. Unity is not sameness; it is interdependence.

When we give energy, we create connection. When we take energy, we create separation.

Becoming one looks like:

• honoring instead of competing
• listening instead of overpowering
• blessing instead of criticizing
• serving instead of demanding
• seeing others as image‑bearers, not obstacles

This is the Kingdom way. This is how heaven grows on earth.

🕊 Practical Takeaway

• Offer someone your full attention today — no phone, no rush.
• Speak one sentence of blessing to someone who needs encouragement.
• Notice when you feel tempted to “take energy” and pause.
• Ask the Spirit: “How can I give life in this moment?”

🙏 Prayer

Lord, teach me the way of giving energy — the way of love, honor, and blessing. Make me a vessel of Your light. Let Your glory flow through me so that I may help others see You more clearly. Make us one, as You and the Father are one. Amen.

🔗 Related Posts

• Becoming One → Is It Possible? — your earlier reflection on unity and divine oneness; this new post expands that idea through energy and love.

• The Kingdom of God — explores the communal life of believers and the Spirit’s unifying power.

• Becoming Like Little Children to Enter the Kingdom — complements the humility and openness needed for true unity.

• Why We All Need Jesus: Understanding Sin and the Kingdom of God — connects the idea of giving energy to redemption and restoration.

• The Acts Church: A Spirit‑Led Model for Today’s Believers — shows unity in practice, the living example of shared spiritual energy.

 

What Does It Mean to “Fear the Lord

 

What Does It Mean to “Fear the Lord”? A Journey Through Scripture, Restoration, and the Heart of the Father

The phrase “fear the Lord” has puzzled believers for generations — and perhaps even the angels, especially the fallen ones. What kind of fear does Scripture call us to? Are we meant to be afraid of God, to shrink back from Him?

When I reflect on the moments I’ve sensed His presence, I remember a calming peace. Yes, at first there was fear — the awe of encountering Someone infinitely greater — but that fear always gave way to rest. And in Scripture, whenever humans encounter God or His messengers, the first words are almost always: “Fear not.”

So what kind of fear is God asking of us?

Fear, Angels, and the Authority of Jesus

Angels are powerful beings, and some have tragically fallen from grace. Whatever that fall entailed, they now use their power for harm rather than good. Yet when Jesus walked the earth, every demon He encountered trembled before Him. Their fear was not reverence — it was terror.

Consider this moment:

Matthew 8:28–32 (NIV) Two demon‑possessed men confront Jesus, and the demons cry out: “What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” They beg Him for permission even to enter pigs. Jesus speaks a single word — “Go!” — and they obey.

Their fear is dread. Our fear is meant to be something entirely different.

Does Hell Mean Eternal Torment? And What Kind of Father Would That Be?

This leads to a deeper question: Do Satan and the fallen angels believe in everlasting torment? And if so, what does that say about God’s character?

We call Him Father. And when we picture a truly good father — gentle, kind, patient — we instinctively know that eternal torture does not reflect His heart toward His children.

This tension drives us back to Scripture, especially to Jesus’ promise that “all things” will be restored.

The Promise of Restoration

Jesus spoke repeatedly about restoration:

Mark 9:11–13 (NIV) “Elijah does come first, and restores all things.”

Matthew 17:10–11 (NIV) “Elijah comes and will restore all things.”

Even after His resurrection, the disciples asked:

Acts 1:6–8 (NIV) “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus replies that the timing belongs to the Father — but restoration is still the trajectory.

This raises a profound possibility: Was Jesus hinting that repentance and restoration will reach further than we imagine — perhaps even to the farthest corners of creation?

Malachi’s Vision: Healing, Renewal, and Hearts Turning

Returning to earlier notes, I found myself drawn again to Malachi 4:

Malachi 4:1–6 (NIV) The day of the Lord burns away evil like stubble, yet for those who revere His name, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.” He promises Elijah will come to turn hearts — parents to children, children to parents — a picture of reconciliation, not destruction.

Even the phrase “you will trample the wicked” may point to the defeat of our own sinful nature, our “flesh,” rather than the annihilation of people.

The Father of Every Family in Heaven and Earth

Paul gives us another glimpse:

Ephesians 3:14–21 (NIV) He kneels before the Father “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” This is a sweeping statement — every family, earthly and heavenly, finds its origin in Him. Paul prays that we would grasp the immeasurable love of Christ, a love that surpasses knowledge and fills us with God’s fullness.

A Father like this does not delight in torment. He delights in mercy.

Romans 11: The Mystery of Mercy for All

Paul then unveils one of the most astonishing passages in Scripture:

Romans 11:25–36 (NIV) Israel’s hardening is temporary. The Gentiles’ mercy is purposeful. And then Paul declares:

“God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” (Romans 11:32)

This is not a small statement. It is a revelation of God’s intention — mercy triumphing over judgment, mercy reaching every corner of the story.

Paul ends with worship, overwhelmed by the depth of God’s wisdom.

So What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?

Not terror. Not dread. Not the fear of a tyrant.

To “fear the Lord” is to stand in awe of a Father whose love is deeper than we can comprehend, whose mercy reaches further than we dare imagine, and whose plan is to restore all things in Christ.

It is the fear that leads not to hiding, but to healing. Not to torment, but to transformation. Not to despair, but to hope.

 

Composite illustration showing Jewish and Christian worship scenes blended with everyday routines. A Jewish man reads the Torah near the Western Wall; a church with cross and communion elements stands opposite. In the center, light shines behind the crucifixion silhouette. Below, an alarm clock, dog, coffee cup, planner labeled ‘Routine,’ and keys symbolize daily habits. Warm golden tones convey reflection on faith and routine.”

Hard‑Headed Hearts and Holy Routines

We humans are funny creatures. We like to think of ourselves as flexible, open‑minded, and spiritually aware — but the truth is, most of us cling to our routines with white‑knuckled devotion. Change unsettles us. Interruptions irritate us. Even our dogs get thrown off when the schedule shifts.

There’s something in us that longs for the familiar. It makes us feel safe, anchored, in control.

But that same instinct can also make us hard‑headed.

Rituals: Comfort or Cage?

Every faith tradition has rituals. Judaism has a rich tapestry of laws, customs, and rhythms that have preserved identity through centuries of exile and suffering. These practices are not random — they are sacred markers of covenant memory.

So, when Christians say, “Yeshua is the Messiah,” Jewish people evaluate that claim through the framework they’ve inherited. From their perspective, He doesn’t match the traditional checklist. Their routines of faith shape how they see Him.

And honestly, before Christians criticize that, we should take a long look in the mirror.

Christians Are Just as Dogmatic

We may not call them “laws,” but we have our own sacred routines:

• the order of service

• the style of worship

• the doctrines we defend more fiercely than Scripture

• the denominational lines we refuse to cross

• the traditions we treat as untouchable

We criticize others for clinging to tradition, yet many of us would panic if someone moved our favorite pew or changed the music we’re used to.

We’re not as flexible as we think.

My Own Routines Aren’t Much Different

I see this in myself. I have daily habits — little rituals that shape my mornings, my evenings, my sense of normalcy. When they get interrupted, I feel off balance.

It’s not that routines are bad. They help us function. But they can also blind us.

Sometimes I realize I’m following patterns without asking whether God is still in them. I’m doing things because they’re familiar, not because they’re faithful.

And that’s when I see the truth: I’m just as hard‑headed as anyone else.

The Real Issue Isn’t Judaism or Christianity — It’s the Human Heart

This isn’t about Jews being stubborn or Christians being rigid. This is about all of us.

We cling to what we know. We defend what feels safe. We resist what challenges us. We prefer the comfort of routine over the risk of revelation.

But God has always been in the business of disrupting routines:

• Abraham was called to leave everything familiar

• Moses was interrupted by a burning bush

• Israel was shaken out of Egypt

• The prophets shattered comfortable patterns

• Yeshua overturned tables — and expectations

God meets us in our routines, but He also breaks them open when they become barriers instead of blessings.

A warm, reverent scene showing a rustic wooden door opening to golden morning light. Beyond the doorway, a winding path curves gently toward a rising sun on the horizon. Soft beams of light spill through the doorway, illuminating the threshold. On the left side of the doorway, an unfurled ancient scroll and a small brass menorah rest on stone. On the right, an open Bible and a simple wooden cross sit in soft shadow. The landscape beyond is peaceful — rolling hills, tall grass, and a sky shifting from deep blue to gold. Painterly realism, soft gradients, warm tones, symbolic of God’s gentle disruptions and the invitation to step beyond routine.

A deeper look at the Nicolaitans in Revelation — what Jesus hated,

 

The Nicolaitans appear only twice in Scripture, yet Jesus says He hates their deeds and doctrines. This study explores what their name means, why their influence was so dangerous, and how their spirit still appears in religious systems today. It’s a call to discernment, repentance, and a return to direct communion with God.

The Doctrines of the Nicolaitans

In the past, I’ve stumbled across the name Nicolaitans in Scripture. It appears only twice—in Revelation chapter 2.

Revelation 2:6 (LEB)

“But you do have this: that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, things which I also hate.”

Revelation 2:15–16 (LEB)

“So likewise you also have those who hold fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent! But if you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword from my mouth.”

This morning, while searching Revelation 2 again, that name caught my attention. I’ve looked before, trying to understand who the Nicolaitans were and what doctrines God hated—but found little clarity. For God to hate something, it’s worth understanding why.

This time, I came across an explanation from BibleStudy.org that helped illuminate the meaning:

“The Greek word for Nicolaitans is Nikolaites (Strong’s Concordance #G3531), which combines three words. Niko or Nikos means conquest or victory—those who dominate the defeated. Lai or Laos means people. Taken together, Nicolaitans means ‘conquerors of the people,’ referring to those who dominate the church of God.”

Human Traditions and God’s Commandments

(Matthew 15:1–20, LEB)

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for elevating human tradition above God’s commandment:

“This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

He taught that defilement comes not from what enters the mouth, but from what proceeds from the heart—evil thoughts, pride, and hypocrisy. The Nicolaitan spirit mirrors this same corruption: human hierarchy replacing divine relationship.

The Nicolaitan Spirit

The word Nicolaitans symbolizes religious systems that claim divine authority flows from the top down—from leaders to the people. Someone interprets Scripture and dictates what others must believe. Those who question the hierarchy are often labeled heretics—disturbers of the status quo.

Holding Fast to Tradition

On November 27, 2019, I reflected on Revelation 2:15:

“So likewise you also have those who hold fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”

I realized I had focused too much on the leaders. This verse places equal weight on the congregation—those who hold fast to false teaching. To hold fast means to cling, to refuse change, to resist repentance.

The Coming Kingdom

Daniel 2:44 (NIV) “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed...”

Jeremiah 31:34 (LEB) “They will no longer teach each one his neighbor, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ for all of them will know Me...”

There will come a time when man shall no longer teach man. The Quakers grasped this truth—that no intermediary is needed to know the Father.

The Sign of Jonah

In 2014, I wrote The Sign of Jonah. I now see how this connects to the Nicolaitan doctrine. Jesus said the only sign given to a wicked generation would be the sign of Jonah—repentance and direct obedience to God.

Matthew 12:39 — “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign…” Luke 11:30 — “For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.”

The Ninevites repented at Jonah’s preaching. Jesus declared that something greater than Jonah is here.

Conclusion

The Nicolaitan doctrine represents the corruption of spiritual hierarchy—the conquest of the people by religious authority. Christ calls His church to repentance, to direct communion with God, and to reject any system that replaces His voice with human control.

The Forgivness we have through G-d's son, Yeshua

 

I woke up this morning thinking about the forgiveness we have through what Yeshua accomplished on the cross. Some people seem to believe that forgiveness is automatic—that everyone is forgiven no matter what, and we can simply continue living as we always have. But when I reflect on what forgiveness truly is, there has to be more to it.

Before forgiveness can take root, there must first be repentance. Yeshua opened the door to forgiveness, but we still have to choose to walk through it.

Definition of Repentance

Repentance is the wholehearted turning of a person back toward God—away from sin, self‑rule, and hardness of heart, and toward obedience, mercy, and truth. In Scripture, repentance is not merely feeling sorry; it is a change of direction, a returning to the path of life. The Hebrew teshuvah literally means “to return,” and the Greek metanoia means “a change of mind.” Together they reveal repentance as a transformation of heart, mind, and actions that restores relationship with God and aligns us again with His love.

When we are ready to repent—truly turning from our sin—God can forgive us, because His Son, Yeshua, has already paid the penalty for those sins. He suffered deeply so that forgiveness could be offered freely.

Repentance and forgiveness are not one‑time moments but the daily rhythm of covenant life. When we turn back to God and receive His mercy, we are restored to the path He intended—a life shaped by His character, His justice, and His love. This is the heart of discipleship: returning again and again, allowing Yeshua’s sacrifice to reshape our choices, our relationships, and the way we walk in the world. In living this way, we honor the covenant and reflect the God who forgives, heals, and calls us to become more like Him each day.