Community

Several years ago I wrote a discipleship study called “The Seven Spiritual Habits of a Maturing Messianic Jewish Faith.” The material covers basic spiritual disciplines which must be practiced in order for a follower of Messiah to grow in personal relationship with G-d. Two relate to involvement with other believers within community. I believe the Scriptures teach that the most important activity for a growing believer is their personal involvement with other believers in a local congregation! Unfortunately, too many followers of Messiah today discount or ignore this, to their spiritual peril.

The first one is Congregational Integration. Just showing up for services is insufficient for spiritual maturity. We must be committed to our community: its purpose, programs and people. Having only a superficial connection to a congregation will never allow someone to become a unified and useful part of the community; they will not be able to be raised up to areas of service, responsibility and leadership. Remember that G-d calls us to be actively connected to our congregations so we can be fully useful for service!

The second is Commitment to Service. An integrated member of a congregation is a committed servant for others within that congregation. This happens naturally in the life of a spiritually maturing believer who recognizes their spiritual gifting as a  responsibility to serve. The list of service opportunities within a congregation is never ending, especially if a congregation is committed to reaching out to those who are not yet followers of the Messiah. Remember that G-d expects us to serve him through committed service within and through our congregational community!

It’s easy to get discouraged and cynical about congregational life. People make it hard sometimes. Yet, Messiah taught, “Love one another.” Let’s remember that love is best developed in community.

Forward for Messiah,

Rabbi Kirk Gliebe

Covenant Commitment

Have you ever struggled to keep a promise? All of us have to admit that we do. It’s a natural part of our being human, whether purposeful disregard to keeping our word or simple inability to always be able to do what we say we will do.

G-d does not have a problem keeping his promises because well, He is G-d! He formalizes what He says He will do in what is called a Brit (Covenant), which is a particular kind of formal relationship made between persons, characterized by mutual obligations. Thus a covenant relationship is not merely a mutual “acquaintanceship” but a deep relational commitment involving responsibility and action. Its faithfulness within relationship!

Just a few examples to consider:

G-d in his love has covenanted Himself to mankind despite our faithlessness: “I will remember My covenant that is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:15.

G-d has covenanted Himself to Israel despite our faithlessness: “Thus says Adonai: “Only if heaven above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then also I will cast off the offspring of Israel—for all they have done.” It is a declaration of Adonai.” Jeremiah 31:37

G-d has covenanted Himself to us who have accepted Messiah Yeshua’s atonement despite our faithlessness: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

 As we approach the new Jewish year of 5783, let us rejoice in our G-d who keeps His promises even when we can’t. Let us also humbly acknowledge his faithfulness to us even when we won’t!

 Forward for Messiah,

 Rabbi Kirk Gliebe

Keeping it Positive!

Twice recently I was told that I was being too negative. Usually when I am told that, I feel it’s because I’m pointing out something that needs improvement or change, and those involved are trying to keep the “status quo” rather than fix the problem. This time was different. Those pointing out my negativity were not concerned about a project or an issue, but about my bad attitude. I was expressing criticism and critique not to improve something, but simply to express my frustration. I was being negative!

For those who wonder how full time religious work can affect the attitude of those doing it, just ask someone in full time religious work! It’s hard, exhausting and often thankless work, with long hours, under difficult conditions, providing counsel and encouragement to people who often don’t seem to appreciate the counsel or encouragement that’s offered. There are easier ways to make a living!!

It’s very easy under these circumstances to become cynical and negative, but it still doesn’t justify maintaining a negative attitude. What do the Scriptures teach us to do regardless of how we feel: Focus on the L-RD, correct your thinking & rejoice! After the second rebuke about my negativity, I remembered Shaul’s words from prison in Philippians 4:4,5 & 8 and became immediately convicted:

“⁴Rejoice in the L-RD always—again I will say, rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be known to all people. The L-RD is near. ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.” (TLV)

Conviction is good for my soul. I’m going to take a couple days off from my religious work, and work on improving my attitude!

Forward for Messiah,

Rabbi Kirk Gliebe

Living as Examples!

In high school I worked at a fast food restaurant, Kentucky Fried Chicken to be specific. With hard work I was soon moving up the ladder! I became the chief baker, responsible for making the famous KFC Biscuits! This was no small feat. They had to be done right each and every time. My boss trained me, showing me example after example of what he wanted me to make. He drilled into me through his example his expectation for my actions. I never have forgotten the value of a well-made biscuit, or the value of a good example! As followers of Messiah Yeshua, we are responsible for producing something more important than biscuits: we need to be producing talmidim (disciples)! In order to make talmidim we have to provide for people an example to follow and then instruct them to copy that example! What does it mean to be a good spiritual example?

In Philippians 3:17 Paul makes very clear his perspective regarding spiritual example setting: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Following good examples has been essential in my spiritual growth and development as a believer. I have benefited by seeing strong and more mature believers model what it means to love G-d and keep his commandments. They have shown me by their personal actions the truth of what the Scriptures teach! What actions were most helpful? First I would say was godliness: the day to day living out of what it meant to die to sin and self. This was invaluable for me to see as a young adult who struggled with bad habits, personal stubbornness and raging hormones! Their examples, especially those who were at or near my age, gave me the strength and encouragement to actively confess and set aside my own sin and to seek G-d’s righteousness. Second was humility: choosing to humbly submit to G-d and others. I always wanted to make a difference in the world, but seeing strong and intelligent people, especially men, willingly choosing to operate in meekness with others reminded me that it was not by my might nor my power, but G-d’s, that ultimately would be required if I wanted to see anything of eternal value happen through my life. Finally it was the living out of faith: choosing to follow G-d and his instruction simply because G-d is real and his ways are true. Seeing people giving their lives, time and possessions for the faith they believed in even when it hurt or cost them encouraged me to do the same! 

What type of an example are you for other followers of Messiah Yeshua to follow? Does your example direct people toward a more maturing faith and relationship with G-d, or are you an excuse for someone’s decision to turn away from G-d? Something to think about! 

Forward for Messiah,

Rabbi Kirk Gliebe

 

Celebrating Relationship!

This year we celebrate Shavuot on the 6^th of Sivan, starting Saturday night, June 4^th. What is Shavuot? Scripturally, Shavuot, also called Pentecost or the Festival of Weeks, commemorates the completion of “the counting of the Omer”, the 50 days from after the first day of Passover to the date that traditionally was when G-d gave the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai: Shavuot.

As we can read in Exodus, when the Jewish People first celebrated Passover and then Shavuot, they were in a period of transition; they had been saved from slavery in Egypt by the G-d who claimed to be the G-d of their ancestors and they had to figure out what it meant to live as a nation under the leadership of the G-d of Abraham. This is why Shavuot is traditionally understood to be the time G-d gave the Law of Moses to the Jewish People. Interestingly enough, Shavuot is also known as the Day of Pentecost – when G-d gave the Holy Spirit to the first disciples of Yeshua as recorded in Acts 2!

It is common for observant Jewish people to celebrate Shavuot by staying up all night to study Scripture to demonstrate their dedication and appreciation for the instruction G-d gave His People. It is also traditional to read the story of Ruth. It is believed that the Megillat of Ruth (the Scroll of Ruth) became the traditional text read because of the manner in which Ruth enters into covenant with the G-d of the Jewish People. Yet, in the holiday of Shavuot, the emphasis is not so much on the people who enter into the covenant as it is on the G-d who desires to be in covenant relationship with His People! This is the most important point and even our lesson for today: G-d desires to be in covenant relationship with us! This is the reason He gave the Jewish People the Torah, this is why He gives followers of Messiah Yeshua His Holy Spirit, and this is why He is coming back to be with us for eternity! G-d is the only G-d, and He initiates relationship with us. Isn’t that amazing! Yet it begs the question:  “How are we celebrating and demonstrating daily our zeal to be in deeper relationship with G-d?”

Forward for Messiah!

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

The Cost of Comfort

I consider myself to be a connoisseur of carrot cake. I’m not sure when this started, but certainly it was under the influence of my wife Carla, as she makes an amazing carrot cake! The rich cream cheese frosting, the sweet heartiness of the cake itself, and the knowledge that I am eating something healthy; its CARROT cake after all! What, you don’t think it’s actually a health food? Well, you’re probably right, but it certainly is a comfort food. Eating carrot cake along with a cup of coffee in the morning is a great way to start my day!

As you’ve already surmised, although I love carrot cake, I have learned that it’s definitely not healthy if eaten regularly or in large quantities. It might give me comfort in the moment, but this comfort comes with a serious enduring cost. There’s much in our world today that can be comparable to carrot cake. Modern society is full of opportunities and activities and conveniences that in and of themselves are not bad, but if acted on too often or in too large of quantities can cost us dearly in the quality and effectiveness of our lives.

Shaul (Paul) understood the spiritual danger that comes if we focus too much attention on our personal comfort. You might say that his life choices were a bit radical and out of the norm because of his ministry calling, which I agree with, but the principles that Shaul taught are universally valuable for all of us to consider and apply into our lives. We live in a world full of good and evil, and being very careful regarding what we choose to fill our lives with ultimately makes an eternity of difference! In 1 Corinthians 9:23-27 (TLV) he wrote:

 I do it all for the sake of the Good News, so that I might be a fellow partaker of it.  Don’t you know that in a stadium the runners all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win!  Every competitor exercises self-control in all respects. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we do it to receive an imperishable one. So I run in this way—not aimlessly. So I box in this way—not beating the air.  Rather, I punish my body and bring it into submission, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

I have known several believers through the years who have allowed their love of this world’s comforts to destroy their spiritual and personal lives. Their allowance for sin, begun at first in small quantities, grew and overwhelmed them, leading them to do horrible things that destroyed their personal testimony and brought great pain into the lives of the people around them. Sin is like the chamets (leaven) of Passover; unless we purge it from our lives it will grow and take over (see 1 Corinthians 5). Take some time to consider your pursuit of comfort compared to the cost of your Messiah’s sacrifice as you prepare for Passover and Resurrection Day this month.

Forward for Messiah!

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

Remembering the Power of G-d’s Word!

In March 2019, Wolf Schubach, my very good friend of over 25 years, passed away after a grueling battle with cancer. In honor of his yartseit (anniversary of his death) I want to once again reflect on Wolf’s life and his passion for the Word of G-d. Wolf loved the Scriptures and the Hebrew Language, down to their very jot and tittle. Though a biologist by education and a business man by vocation, his passion for the last 15 years was in meticulously translating the Hebrew Old Testament. Four separate times he painstakingly translated through the entire text, working as he went to understand the unique meaning of each Hebrew word so he could express this unique meaning in an accurate English translation. Translating the Scriptures for Wolf was an expression of his worship of G-d!

Is it possible that for some of us, the Scriptures are too familiar? Could it be that we take them for granted, treating them as nice literature but not what they really are: G-d’s miraculous Word of Truth!  Paul challenges us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 with the miraculous and supernaturally unique nature and purpose of the Scriptures: 

“All Scripture is breathed out by G-d and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of G-d may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 

Wolf appreciated Paul’s challenge, and spent the latter years of his life maximizing his ability to understand the Scriptures for himself. He challenged me to do the same. Consider for yourself: do you take the Scriptures for granted or are you maximizing the Power of G-d’s Word? 

Forward for Messiah,

Rabbi Kirk Gliebe