Our calendar in December encourages us to remember two important
historical events that are at their core, dates that celebrate faith. As
Messiah Yeshua stated in Luke 18:8, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he
find faith on the earth?” (TLV) The context for this statement is the
illustration of the persistent widow and the stubborn judge. Yeshua was
challenging his disciples then, and us today, to persist in prayer, which is to
persist in faith. Unfortunately too many of us I believe have allowed our zeal
for faith living to cool. Let’s face it, living out faith today in our society
isn’t perceived to be cool!
Hebrews 11 is recognized as a chapter that celebrates faith in
G-d. The first verse makes the point of trying to both define faith and
articulate what it does in the life of a person of faith. I sum the verse up in
two points:
First,
Faith is Confident Assurance about our Future. Faith gives us genuine certainty
regarding what G-d has stated in his Scripture about our eternal future with
him!
Second,
Faith is G-d given Conviction about the Unseen Reality. Faith is the motivation that
leads us to test for what G-d has stated in the Scriptures about the reality of
the spiritual realm and, by testing, to prove that it is real!
What does this have to do with Chanukah and Christmas? Both of
these holidays remember people of faith who took deliberate, risky and painful
steps of faith! The Maccabees who stood up against the corrupt religious
establishment of their day and the paganism of the Syrian King who reigned over
them practiced great faith. They took G-d at his word, understanding what he
expected from them, and brought great spiritual renewal for our Jewish people.
Mary and Joseph, Anna and Simeon, also lived out faith in what G-d revealed to
each of them in quite inconvenient and socially awkward ways. Just to think
that Mary humbly agreed to become the mother of the Messiah, knowing the stigma
this would cause her; Joseph also, knowing he would need to bear the difficult
role of fathering a son, not his own, but G-d’s! Why did they do this? They
were confronted by the reality of G-d’s will for their lives and they chose, by
faith, to fulfill G-d’s will for them despite the difficulties it would bring.
They each chose to trust G-d!
This holiday season take time to renew your commitment to faith
living. What steps can you take that will force you to test the reality of
G-d’s unseen spiritual realm: More time for Scripture reading? A greater
commitment to G-d’s service in an environment way outside your comfort zone?
Really prioritizing G-d with your finances? Setting aside your plans for your
life in order fulfill G-d’s plans for your life? G-d’s Word is truth and
Messiah calls us to grow our faith in him through prayer and action. Something
to think about!
Happy Chanukah & Merry Messiahmas!
Kirk Gliebe
Rabbi & Director
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