In Genesis chapter 17, God confirmed his covenant with Abraham by giving him the rite of circumcision, that is, brit milah (בְּרִית מִילָּה), a term that literally means “covenant (i.e., brit: בְּרִית) of the word” (i.e., milah: מִלָה). It is important to note that the rite of circumcision never was intended to effect the promise of God but only to attest to it. Circumcision served as sign or token of faith in the word of the LORD, that is, in God’s loving promise. We see the connection by noting that the word “covenant” (i.e., brit: בְּרִית) appears exactly 13 times during this dramatic episode (i.e., Gen. 17:1-22), which is the same numeric value as the Hebrew word for love (i.e., ahavah: אַהֲבָה). Further note that the last occurrence of the word “covenant” in this section concerns God’s exclusive choice of Isaac, Abraham’s only true heir, the promised child who was chosen to be the “sacrificed seed” (see Gen. 17:21). Indeed the very first time the word “love” appears in the Scriptures occurs when God asks Abraham to take his son, his “beloved” son, and to offer him as a whole burnt offering (Gen. 22:2), a clear picture of the sacrificial message of Yeshua the Messiah:…
“Please take your son… קַח־נָא אֶת־בִּנְךָ
your only son… אֶת־יְחִידְךָ
the one whom you love… אֲשֶׁר־אָהַבְתָּ
even Isaac… אֶת־יִצְחָק
and go to the land of Moriah
and offer him as a burnt offering.”
and offer him as a burnt offering.”
…
It is written in our Scriptures: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). We are “in” but not “of” the world, so that means that we share in the common hardships and sorrows of this world. However, the difference is this: We do not suffer alone, for God’s love surrounds us with comfort. For those who know Yeshua, suffering does not demand an intellectual answer to “why” we suffer as much as it evokes the heart’s cry for God’s presence… In the midst of our troubles the Spirit groans within us: “My soul clings to you and your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8). We come to God in our brokenness, holding fast to his promise of comfort, and God upholds us with his hand. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your word gives me life” (Psalm 119:50).
Our life in this world will end far sooner than we expect, and then what will become of us? I am not here thinking of the end of “the” world, but rather the end of your world – when you will die and face the light of eternity. Today, this moment, you are on the way, going someplace; your “latter days” are already come… If you are not prepared today, how will you be better prepared tomorrow? Today is the day of salvation, the hour that matters most (Psalm 95:7; Heb. 3:13). Learn to die to the world now, to let go of what presently holds you captive, so that you are free to meet that which forever shall come. Don’t put off genuine teshuvah: turn while there is still time (Eph. 5:15-16). And may God give us mercy to say from the heart: “For me to live is Messiah, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
It is vital to affirm your identity as a beloved child of God… You may not always feel the connection, but you must choose it regardless of your present emotional state, because your place in God’s heart is a matter of truth, not sentimentality. Who you really are is grounded in the Reality and power of the LORD God of Israel.
As followers of Yeshua, we no longer find our identity in this world but rather through our spiritual union with our ascended LORD (Gal. 2:20; 6:14; Eph. 1:3; 2:6)… As our Lord said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” (Luke 9:23-25).
The sages note that the phrase “
Yeshua said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We cannot create the new birth by means of moral reformation, since the divine life is a miracle from above and not the result of human agency or aspiration (John 1:13; John 3:6). If we “live in” Yeshua we will bear fruit – our spiritual connection or “union” with him is sufficient for every good work, but only fruit that derives from the life of Messiah will abide (1 John 2:17). Good works are a necessary consequence of regeneration in Messiah, but by themselves they are insufficient and something more is needed (Matt. 7:21-23). Therefore the Scriptures point to the salvation of God and his grace as the efficient cause for the miracle of newness of life: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” (Titus 3:5); “for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves (τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν), it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8); “so if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Rom. 11:6).
“Because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:6). Note here the Spirit does not cry out using “esoteric” or magical names for God, nor does the Spirit refer to one of God’s many titles based on the divine attributes, but instead uses a term of intimacy and profound trust. After all, the word “abba” (אַבָּא) is not so much a name for God as it is a claim about who you are — it is a confession that you belong to the Lord as his beloved child…