Teaching Team
Keeping Focused
Boaz and I carpool to work just about every day. During the drives we usually engage in some kind of conversation on a variety of topics from projects at First Fruits, politics, Torah, or family life. Last night on the way home we had one of those kind of discussions that you need every once in a while to keep you focused.
As many of you know at First Fruits of Zion our missions statement is, "Teaching the Torah and its way of life, fully centered on Messiah, to today's people of God." Yesterday we spoke of the need to stay centered on Messiah. Perhaps though, I could even use stronger words to describe our discussion. We spoke of the need to stay "in love with" Messiah.
Over the years we have regrettably seen people get excited about Torah life, begin to study and living it out, and then something happens. It seems that their love for Messiah grows cold or lukewarm at best. Now they don't leave Messiah outright. They still read the Gospels occasionally and profess that he is the Messiah but it is clear that they have lost the passion for the Master. He is no longer the center piece.
Boaz and I spoke about these individuals with heavy hearts. Boaz told me, "We have to remember that Messiah is not a byproduct of Torah but rather Torah is a byproduct of Messiah." Our faith does not just include Messiah: it is Messiah!
At the same time we at First Fruits know that we are not immune. We have to activity pursue this love for the Master Yeshua and kindle it each day through prayer, reading his words, and then walking them out. We need to be engaged in Godly conversations with others about Messiah that strengthen and sharpen us. We should be passionately sharing his good news with those who are hungry for answers. We need to be stepping out in faith and seeing the promise of us as his disciples performing greater works than he did.
As I pulled out Boaz's driveway after dropping him off, I reflected on the conversation we had. It was one that all of us need every so often as followers of the Master. It's one where we step back and make sure that everything is in proper perspective. May we all grow deeper in our love and affection for the Master.
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