Through compassion, we receive His favor.

“May Your compassion come to me that I may live,
For Your law is my delight.”
— Psalm 119:77

Am I a broken record.

If so, I’m a true record, even in my brokenness. In my life, as gracious Father let me repent and be made new, I was brought to my knees. I was at a point that if I knew one thing, I could at least go to paradise with that one thing in my brain. At least I know that God’s law is truth.

Why do I keep saying Torah is a gift, Torah is a benefit, Torah is, simply good? Because the Bible keeps saying it. God keeps saying it. It wouldn’t be repeated so much if it was insignificant or detrimental.

Halleluyah. I can be like a tree planted by the river. I can bear fruit, even as an old crickety dad.

Compassion is undeserved. Life is borrowed. We have zero life in ourselves. We get breath from God. He is the author of life. He is the giver of life through His loving compassion. And our God has given us a way to live. That way is in Torah. Why would I be like the one who walks in the counsel of the ungodly? Why listen to scornful? I guarantee, demons and deceptive spirits do NOT like God’s principles for living.

Do you like, do you delight in Torah?

this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

1 John 5:3

We don’t understand every precept instantly. Let’s be like the new converts in the time of the Jerusalem council. Let’s start following Messiah, then read through and incline our ears to Torah as we go.

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Acts 15:19-21

First Things First

As Mike Sundin of One In Messiah, Tallahassee points out. Modern churches don’t really teach the first part of the Jerusalem council conclusions. Take a look and ask yourself if you’ve been taught to be careful of any of these food guidelines.

What about verse 21? Are you hearing the Torah each week? The new converts from Paganism (former gentiles) in that time were being taught Torah. It is not warned against. It is not important, or even possible to make sure a pagan is fully observant before coming to Messiah – entering into the fellowship of Israel.

Let them come to Messiah and turn from immorality, then learn as they go. We all do this. Unless we tell ourselves that Torah dishonors YHWH.

I found Messiah, but many years later, I found His delight in Torah. Guess what. Still not perfect. Good thing I didn’t hold off until I was perfect.

But I know YHWH. I breathe His spirit in my lungs. The Messiah is in me and I am in Him. His Torah is a delight. And this won’t be the last time I tell you that.

Prayer:

Father, I love you and delight in your presence. Thank you for rest, and health. Thank you for shalom in your Way. Keep me inside your compassion and love. I do not call your ways a burden. I call it a delight. Dwell in me and let me forever be in your faith and provision. Amen.