Thus says YHVH "Stand in the old ways, the ancient paths and see and ask where the good way is and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls."-Jeremiah 6:16

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Glory

I had a revelation the other day!  Let me tell you...

So, my husband has been working out over the past year and a few months ago, he went through his closet and pulled out all the clothes that no longer fit properly.  We bagged them up and drove out to a local charitable organization but they were closed.  So, not wanting to keep the clothes sitting around the house any longer, I decided to take them to the homeless shelter.  On the way there, I passed a building whose sign out front read "God's Glorious Church".  It was closed, no one was there.  I drove on and even closer to the men's shelter, there was another church, "Our Lady of the Assumption".  No one was there either.  I made it to the shelter...didn't even make it in the door before a man came up to me.  "You got clothes?  Can you just give them to me?  I am sure they will fit.  If you take them in there, I won't get them.  They won't give them to me."  I protested a bit.  I could not tell if the guy was running game on me or not.  But I quickly decided I didn't care.  Here was a man with no home.  He wanted clothes.  I had them to give and so I did.  There on the sidewalk.  His name was Ellis.

Earlier in thesame day, I was aware that in the Messianic community, it was a feast day, Yom Teruah, a day of shouting and praise and blasting of trumpets followed by a day of fasting and prayer.  The weeks prior to these feast days are called the days of Teshuva or repentance; a time to examine our hearts, to make ammends for any wrongs we have done and to restore broken relationships.  I always struggle with the meaning of keeping Torah, law and grace, YHVH's will for my life.  I, wasn't going to congregation to shout with the blowing of the shofar, wasn't fasting the following day.  Sometimes, my liberty frightens me.  And as I always do when I feel unclear, I turned to my Abba, seeking His will for my life in His Word.  "What do you want me to do??!"  I cried out.  I opened my bible.  Joel chapter 1.  The heading of the section my eyes fell on: A call to repentance.  "Ok, Abba.  I am listening.  What are you saying to me?"  And then His voice, clear as a bell, "Amos."  I flip to the book, right to chapter 5, my eyes widening as the words of YHVH leap from the tissue thin page; "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies."  verse 21.  The King says away with the songs and music, but to "let justice roll on like a river" and "righteousness like a never ending stream!"  In Isaiah, The King says that the fast that pleases Him, the fast that He has chosen is "to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

As I was heading back home after giving the clothes away, driving back past the empty churches, the verses above came to my mind again and I was suddenly so ashamed!  Hot tears began rolling down my cheeks.  How dare we assume that God's Glorious church has anything to do with a brick building or stained glass saints or bellowing ram's horns???  There is no church other than those who are walking with YHVH loving Him and loving other people.  Knowing Him and making Him known by the love we show.  Cleansing and seasoning salt.  Warm and unwavering light.  If we love Him, if we share food with hungry people, stand up for the oppressed, clothe those with nothing to wear, protect those who have no defense, this, this is glory!  "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of YHVH will be your rear guard...If you do away with the pointing finger and malicious talk and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noon day."  Isaiah 58:8-10

"Thank you Abba." I breathed, feeling His clear love erasing my shame.  And there, in my van, with Cub happy in the backseat, I did celebrate Yom Teruah, shouting and singing the name of my Father whose glory  I truly long to live for.