We are here to be a light to the Way. Where we currently reside if we are believer's in Messiah is not our home or country. An Ambassador represents his home country. If we truly represent the Father we must live the lifestyle we are instructed to by the Father. Consider Sampson. When he was confronting the culture he was effective. When he tried to join the culture he was ineffective
Php 2:15 in order that you be blameless and faultless,
children of Elohim without blemish in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world,
Sampson is an example of being called to be different.
His was the vow of the Nazarite. He was to be unique,
set-apart for Yahweh’s purposes. Sampson was not effective
in his calling as a visual aid for one reason. He went down
to the Philistines and
rather than being in confrontation to the culture there, he
chose to participate in it. This is what I see in the churches
today and why following Abba’s instructions are so important.
Sampson’s big failure was not so much in violating his Nazarite
vow but in beginning to participate in the cultural value
system that he was supposed to be confronting.
It is completely impossible for us to live out this
Elohim – centered existence in confrontation of the cultural
values that we live with and with which we disagree if we
are openly or even secretly participating in the value
system in which we oppose. The great failure of Christianity
is its tendency to adopt the cultural values and the
lifestyle values of the very culture we are supposed
to be distinct from. Just as when Sampson lived a
lifestyle completely separated to Elohim’s values
he was effective, so too when we live according to
Abba’s instructions we can be effective. When Sampson
compromised with the value system he represented he
lost his power and effectiveness. The same thing
happens to us. Our task is to be a part of this
confrontation between the culture of Elohim and
the culture of the world. Our task begins and ends
with discipleship for ourselves and our family. We
must recognize that “faith is more often than not
counter-cultural, that the values it elevates –
selflessness, love, faith – are often ignored,
belittled, or perverted by the society we live in.
And if Jesus really is Lord, as the Gospels, the
apostle Paul, and the church insists, then nothing
else is, so why should it matter what society thinks,
does, or says?”3
Now pictures from yesterday and today's Menorah lighting
Today the girls helped their brother-in-law with baking some goodies. For a
running commentary and more pictures visit my daughter's blog at
esthersmeadow.blogspot.com
Shalom
