It’s all about the People!

The beginning of 2023 has taken off with lots of ministry and blistering cold weather! Sometimes we feel like we must be in Alaska instead of Illinois. Regardless of the weather, we work to keep our focus on the goal: encouraging people to consider the truthfulness of the Besora (Good News) that Yeshua our Jewish Messiah brings Salvation for all who will believe in him!

That being said, ministry is a people business and so ministry is often busy and messy! Certainly it’s possible to do “religious work” without actually spiritually ministering into the lives of real people, but at Devar Emet it is our vision to connect with people, Jewish people, so that G-d might work through us for their spiritual benefit.

I have often noticed that the farther away one is from directly interacting with people, the more money one can make. Compare the pay of the retail employee working directly with the customer with their boss or the CEO behind the desk. Unfortunately, this sadly is often true of people in ministry as well! Consider the local congregational leader or outreach worker dealing with the constant pressures of serving the spiritual needs of real people, overworked and underpaid for their effort, compared to those in administration of secular or religious non-profits far removed from the daily stresses of personally meeting people’s needs, yet paid significantly more for their efforts!

Ministry can never be about the money, yet Yeshua’s words remind me never to forsake the hard work of people ministry for the easy pay of management: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send out workers into His harvest field.” Pray for us to keep our focus clear and pray for others who will answer Yeshua’s call to the Harvest as well!

Forward for Messiah,

 Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

A New Year's Secret!

At the beginning of our new civic calendar, it is natural for each of us to hope and plan for bigger and brighter blessings and opportunities in the New Year. I have always given much thought and prayer during this season regarding goals and objectives for the New Year: for my relationship with G-d, my family and my ministry. I hope you do as well. The truth is that such efforts are really an act of faith. No one can predict the future and assure for themselves success, regardless of how well they plan out their lives. At this season especially, it is important for us to remember to firmly place our faith in G-d, the One who does know the future, and to be sure that our plans and goals have Him at the center.

 When we maintain our faith in G-d and in his plans and goals for our lives, we will truly live successful lives.

 
Are you a successful person in the eyes of the World? Are you a successful person in the eyes of G-d? The Scripture teaches us the secret to a successful life: trust and obey! We will conquer the most overwhelming challenges if we just do what G-d tells us to do and trust in him regarding the unknown settings of the future. If we resist G-d like Moses initially did, then we will fail to know G-d's perfect plan that he has for each one of us. If however we listen and learn to trust in G-d, as Moses eventually did, we will come to find that G-d had everything perfectly planned out all along; all we had to do was ride it out by trusting for G-d to guide us to where we needed to go.
 
Remember the New Year’s Secret: When we maintain our faith in G-d and in his plans and goals for our lives, we will truly live successful lives. May your New Year be full of many blessings and opportunities!

Forward for Messiah,

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

I’m Hopeful for the Future!

For an individual who reads and believes in the Scriptures, our current world easily seems out of order. But that is not G-d’s original plan. G-d’s perfect creation, as we live in it now, has been made imperfect because of mankind’s sinfulness. G-d, knowing our disordered and imperfect state, determined to redeem and restore his creation. As the Scriptures teach, G-d’s plan for redemption has two phases: first the spiritual restoration of individual people and then the full physical and spiritual restoration of all of creation. Phase one of G-d’s plan made it possible through the sacrificial atonement of Israel’s Messiah Yeshua for all people to be spiritually transformed, to be made positionally righteous before G-d, and therefore capable both to be in relationship with G-d and also to live according to G-d’s expectation of order.

Even though people today can come into right relationship with G-d, the true believer is still subject to living in a world that is imperfect and in outright rebellion against G-d and G-d’s expectation of order. No long lasting political, economic or moral solution for the real issues that plague our world is possible because of the spiritual brokenness of mankind. Our world needs phase two of G-d’s plan: the full physical and spiritual restoration of all of creation. In order for this to happen, G-d will impose himself and his expectation of order upon sinful mankind and his imperfect creation to bring this renewal. G-d will intervene in our world to bring final and complete judgement on sin and rebellion against him. All those at that time, both living and dead, who are not in right relationship with G-d through their personal faith in Messiah Yeshua’s atonement for their sin, will be subject to this judgement, a judgement of complete and total separation from G-d for eternity. All those at that time, both living and dead, who have come into right relationship with G-d through their faith in Messiah Yeshua’s atonement for their sin, will be blessed both spiritually and physically into a full and complete relationship with G-d as they live out G-d’s expectation of order on an earth that has been restored to its original perfection which will continue for eternity. At that time Israel will be the leader of the nations with Messiah Yeshua reigning as King over all G-d’s creation from Jerusalem.

True believers today seeking to impact their world for positive, Scriptural change, should focus their attention on living out G-d’s expectation of order in and through their lives as a public witness for G-d, regardless of personal loss or cost, and also to actively work to strengthen other true believers in Messiah Yeshua as individuals or as communities through the use of their spiritual gifts, resources and time. Live your life today focused clearly on the reality of Messiah Yeshua’s imminent return tomorrow. Live out values and priorities in your daily life today that demonstrate your personal investment in G-d’s eternal kingdom and his award for you tomorrow.

Forward for Messiah,

Rabbi Kirk Gliebe

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