Keep The Faith

✦ Unity Series ✦ Exploring covenant ethics, prophetic vision, and the call to unity in faith and practice. Is God's Protection Absolute? A Unity Series reflection on Psalm 91, covenant faithfulness, and the mystery of suffering 📖 Scripture Focus "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" Psalm 91:1–2 (ESV) "In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (ESV) 🌤 Opening Reflection Psalm 91 is one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture. It speaks of refuge, shelter, wings, and fortress. It promises that "no harm will overtake you" and that God will command His angels concerning you. For centuries, believers have turned to this psalm in times of danger, illness, and fear. But if we are honest, we also know that faithful p...

Questions About the Messiah As a Christian who loves the Hebrew Scriptures, I’ve always been fascinated by the Jewish understanding of the Messiah. Judaism teaches that the Messiah will be a human male, a direct descendant of King David, who will accomplish great acts of restoration and establish a kingdom of peace. This kingdom is described in Scripture as everlasting. That raises an honest question for me: If the Messiah’s kingdom is everlasting, how is that understood within Judaism? Does the Messiah himself live forever, or is the “everlasting” nature of the kingdom understood in a different way? From a Christian perspective, the eternal nature of the Messiah’s reign is one of the reasons we believe Yeshua is the promised Messiah — His resurrection and eternal life align with the idea of an everlasting King. But I want to understand how Judaism interprets these same passages. Another question that often comes to mind is about the Torah itself. Rabbis st...

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 rep...

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 Dra...

📖 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 ...

  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...

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 th...

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 wer...

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, I realize it calls for a deeper response. 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. What Repentance Really Means 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 transformatio...

✨ Why Judaism and Christianity See the Messiah Differently A Guide for Readers Seeking Understanding, Not Argument When Christians talk about Jesus as the Messiah, we usually begin with fulfilled prophecies, the lineage of David, and the spiritual mission of salvation. But Judaism approaches the Messiah from a very different angle — one shaped by centuries of interpretation, legal tradition, and lived experience. Understanding these differences doesn’t weaken Christian faith; it simply helps us see how another ancient faith reads the same Scriptures through a different lens. Below are the four major reasons Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah. 🕊️ 1. Judaism Expects a World‑Transforming Messiah In Jewish thought, the Messiah’s arrival is marked by visible, global change , not spiritual fulfillment alone. Classical Jewish sources describe a world where: War ends All nations acknowledge the God of Israel The Temple is rebuilt The...