Chanukah Day 7 - "Humility"

The Fruit of Humility:

Humility is described as the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people: the quality or state of being humble, according to Webster’s dictionary.

Humility, notice, is not thinking less about yourself. God created us to be confident of the VERY GOOD Work that He is doing in us. Many times we are told not to look too highly of oneself when it comes to faith, the word of God, and sharing our faith through the Spirit.

Thinking that we are better than other people is one issue. Not believing what God said about us, and who were are to become, is equally damaging.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:1-5

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” - James 1:17

We have been chosen to shine as lights in the world. Increasing the word of God that is in you, increases the light that will shine.

The idea of working out faith is no more than allowing the Word of God to come alive on the inside, through the Spirit.

Unbelief is our greatest enemy. You overcome that by trust.

The smallest candle burning bright into the darkest night, cast light to all who are around it and can be seen from very far away. Believers need to make sure that we reach for the Light of the world first.

It is natural for all of us when we walk into a dark room to reach for the light switch. Why? You know that when you turn that switch on everything will change in that room. You will be able to see what you need to see.

So think about this? The WORD of God is the light that needs to be switched on in our lives.

That light becomes the agent of change in the lives of those around you in the dark room.

You are God’s chosen instrument to carry the Light.

Lets us strike the match and turn on the the candle of humility.

Happy Chanukah,

Todd

Chanukah Day 6 - "Faithfulness"

The Fruit of Faithfulness

Lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships, especially marriage and friendship: The fact or quality of being true to one’s word or commitments, as to what one has pledged to do, professes to believe, etc.: The fact or quality of being dedicated and steadfast in performing one’s duty, working for a cause, etc.

Faithfulness can be viewed in a variety of ways. We can think of animals and how they are faithful to their families. Caregivers for those who are unwell. Hospice when it is called in to walk people across the threshold of eternity. Husbands and wives. Students who are faithful to their schools. Sports fans and how they are faithful to their team, league, or region. Employment over several decades. These are all examples of faithfulness.

How has our Father been faithful, to a creation that is made in the likeness of Him?

"If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." - 2 Timothy 2:13

"From this you can know that Adonai your God is indeed God, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his mitzvot, to a thousand generations." - Deuteronomy 7:9

In one translation the word - faithful - appears 82 times the word - faithfully - appears 8 times - the word - faithfulness - appears 19 times.

Who are our examples, found in Hebrews 11, of Faithful (Trusting) individuals in the God of Abraham.

Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Yiftach, David, Samuel and the prophets.

God is Faithful when we are not. If you look at each of the lives above, even though they are Faithful, they had their individual character testings.

"Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them!" - Hebrews 11:36-38

Hebrews 11:36-38 are additional examples of the faithful, who remained nameless and encountered traumatic testing.

Today, we witness these same testings of individuals for their faithfulness.

This holiday season take a moment to reflect on the blessings and the testings of our faithfulness. Remember those who are going through severe tests of their faithfulness.

Happy Chanukah and Shabbat Shalom,

Todd