Weekly Reflection

But to as many as did receive Him, to those who put their trust in His person and power, He gave the right to become children of God, not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.

The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw His Sh’khinah, the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

This week, as the Christmas lights shine around you and you engage in gatherings with family and friends, exchanging gifts, laughter, and fun, remember the true reason for the season. Remember Jesus, the Word of God who became flesh, and the power that God gave Him to save anyone who believes in Him. Remember that the gift does not depend on your “bloodline, physical impulse, or human intention, but because of God.” Remember that although salvation began with the Jews, they are no longer the sole focus, though some still believe them to be the chosen nation. God, through Jesus’ blood, has made all people the focus of salvation.

He was faithful to the one who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of the greater honor than Moses, as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

I have always loved the Christmas holiday. However, as I continue to grow in my relationship with Christ, God through the Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to see how I, just like most Christians, have fallen for the concept of baby Jesus instead of recognizing the power that entered the world to save our souls. Yeshua came to warn the world and provided us a way to God, but he will return not only to reward those who have found the narrow road but also to conquer and judge those who have chosen wickedness (Matthew 13:40–42, 25:41, etc.). I know that the Christmas holiday originated as a pagan celebration to worship natural planetary phenomena (Saturnalia for the winter solstice and Sol Invictus, the sun god, adopted by the Romans from the Persian solar god, Mithra) as gods. Another fact is that the Bible does not specify the exact date of Jesus’ birth. If you are like me, every day is Jesus’ birthday because every time someone dies to themselves and resurrects as a new creation, it symbolizes a new birth that continues to build the body of Christ (Galatians 2:20–21, Romans 6:4, John 11:25).

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

As I contemplated many things while grieving over the souls of humanity and observing how Satan has blinded many, Jesus reminded me of His warning in Matthew 7:13–15: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

How often do you find yourself questioning whether we are in the last days referenced in this scripture? In Matthew 24:3–14, Jesus urges us to be vigilant in response to a question about the signs of His coming at the end of the age. He predicts various forms of chaos that will occur in the world and instructs us not to be alarmed. In verse 12, Jesus says, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Despite the chaos, Jesus assures us that there will be those who “stand firm to the end and will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). I believe that 2 Timothy 3:1–5 continues Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:10–11, where he says, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

This week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving holiday with the entire country. The act of being thankful is not a one-day celebration for every person who understands the height which God has rescued them from. We have so much to be thankful for daily. Let us reflect on what it means when we say thank you Jesus for saving us. As we read about God’s broken heart in Genesis chapter 6 it’s very clear that God had some faith in humans to choose his path for their lives. God seems to have chosen humankind and believed they would choose his path instead of Satan’s schemes. Unfortunately, in Genesis 6:5-9 God accepted the fact that humanity had lost their way to his original purpose for their lives and decided there was no repair for humankind and resolved that destruction was the only solution.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The dragon is enraged to destroy every human soul.  The human species is in a war that is beyond what their naked eyes can see; therefore, Satan takes whatever form that suits their deep heart desires to lead them to love darkness more than the gift of light (John 3:16-21).  That is why Romans 5:6-9 resonates with every being of my soul “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Yes, the spiritual war for our soul is as real as we see the world around us but not everyone is granted the gift to see the dragon- Satan scheme.  Revelation 12: 17, “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” I no longer fight or dismiss the fact that God has chosen me to see things beyond what my flesh sees.  This is a daunting gift that often frightens my soul. I can be around a person or a group, and God allows me to feel and sometimes see the demonic spirit that operates in their life. This is the first time I am speaking about this gift because I spent most of my Christian journey fighting or denying that God chose me out of darkness into the light to be used by him. Even in my own life, when I allow the demonic spirits to come near me in my disobedience to God’s commands I see and know their presence is around me.