“as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””
(1 Peter 1:14–16, NKJV cf. Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2).
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” (Ephesians 5:1, NKJV)
O Yahweh Almighty Creator; the Everlasting One, Blessed be Your Name FOREVER.
In Your Love, You gave Your Torah and by it You Instructed us, so that by Your Words we would have Life, and truly LIVE. (Deut. 8:2-3; Lev. 18:5; Luke 10:25-28) . In Your Mercy you did not leave us under the curse of sin and death, when we had sinned and violated Your Torah, but You graciously provided Yeshua the Messiah who modeled Torah-living for us, and then died to pay the penalties that we deserve for breaking Your Word (1John 2:1-6; Titus 2:11–15). In Your Mercy You did not leave us powerless, for You raised Messiah and then Sent the Holy Spirit, to transform us from disobedient sinners, into Your children (Colossians 1:9-12; cf. Ephesians 5:1; Matthew 5:48). How then do we repay your marvelous work of Love, and Grace? Have we said to ourselves, oh Yahweh, change our hearts and minds so that we will delight in, agree with, choose, and DO, what pleases You, as our Father? Have we said, your love and patience is so great, I wish to learn the ways and deeds of my Father?
- Oh no, what we have said is this. Foolishly we have said, since God is so gracious and so loving, we can ignore His decrees, claim faith in His Son, and we will be saved regardless (cf. Matthew 7:21-23).
- In our arrogance we have said, surely what Yahweh prefers and delights in, and the decrees of His Mouth have died with His Son, so that His Judgments and Standards are now meaningless (Romans 6:1; cf. Romans 8:5-8)
- Foolishly we have said, let us bring to God what we prefer, instead of learning and doing what He prefers (cf. Matthew 16:24; Luke 22:42; Isa. 56:1-7).
- Arrogantly we have said, let us abandon what Yahweh has prescribed for worship, and instead let us raise up the Festival days, the names, the decorations, the customs and the mythologies which were used for centuries to worship other gods, which were used to profane the Name of our God and Father, and to murder His people (Deut. 12:1-4, 8, 29-32; Jeremiah 10:1-6; cf. 2 Corinth. 6:14-7:1).
- Arrogantly we have said, let us extol the customs and methods of the pagans who hate our God, but let us proclaim that Yahweh's ways are backward.
I put it to you plainly. Is this truly the fruit which love toward God produces? Is this the sort of fruit that God's Grace truly produces? (Matthew 7:13-25; Ezekiel 36:25-27; cf. Philippians 2:13).Oh Yahweh Almighty God our Father, save us, for our hearts are truly wicked beyond measure. In your love and mercy, forgive us and save us from all deeds of lawlessness and sin. By Your Spirit, mercifully transform us into Your true sons and daughters, who delight to learn Your ways, to obey Your Instructions as our Father, and to follow Your straight and narrow pathway, as our shepherd. Mercifully give us grace to abandon our ways and to gladly take up Your ways instead. Mercifully give us ears to hear, a heart that is good fertile and receptive ground, and a will that is obedient to what You say is pleasing and honoring to You; for this is truly what Your Grace came to accomplish in the lives of humankind. Have mercy upon us oh Yahweh. Grant this through Your unfailing love, and through Your Son Yeshua the Messiah, amen.
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear, what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘Repent for I am coming soon.’ (See Revelation 22:12)
