So far the big news of the week is been a cease-fire that has been brokered between Israel and Hezbollah which requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon over the next 60 days and Hezbollah to retreat away from the Israel border.
Pres. Biden has praised the truce and peace treaty between the two groups while confirming it from the Rose Garden this week. Ironically, both sides continue to fight up until the cease-fire start time. Furthermore, both sides have reserved the right to retaliate if one of the parties doesn’t follow through on the terms of the agreement. Even, in a moment of peace each party still wants to follow the ways of the world.
- Deceptive
- Power-hungry
- Uncompassionate
- Vengeful
Cease-fires are only effective when both parties follow through on their agreements with the opposite party and the terms of the truce. If either party is dishonest or breaks the agreement, fighting is likely to resume quickly.
Compromises between warring nations need to be followed to the letter of the specified agreement or else the cease-fire is useless. Still, cease-fires are temporary breaks in fighting that follow regional disagreements between opposing nations. This fight between good and evil has been raging since the fall in the garden (Genesis 3:1-9.) That is why it is important to patients and those we follow.
Follow
We live in a world full of opportunities and choices, some are good and others are bad. We each must choose which path we will follow in life, God’s way or ours, or the world’s path. Unfortunately, the 21st century social media craze has desensitized us to the spiritual and social consequences of following the wrong people or ideas (Psalm 1:1, Proverbs 12:26, 1 Corinthians 15:33.)
The dictionary defines follow as, “To go after, pursue or proceed.” Who are what we follow will lead us in a particular direction or path. Following is a big decision for God’s people. We must choose God’s way over the world’s ways.
The world’s ways are easy, selfish, and lead to death (Romans 6:23.) God’s people are called to obey and follow God’s ways and His law (Deuteronomy 5:33; 23:17, Psalm 119:44.) The first Adam disobeyed God and followed Satan away from God, because of that our sin nature is at odds with God’s Spirit and tempts us to follow our flesh (Galatians 5:17.)
That is why it is imperative for God’s people to live by the Spirit and follow God’s ways (Romans 8:5-6.) Following God means obeying His commands (John 15:14, Acts 5:29, Romans 6:16, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ephesians 6:1-3, 1 Peter 1:14.) The apostles remembered their Jewish education about following God.
Rāḏap̄
The ancient world offered many paths to happiness and satisfaction, paths that led mankind away from God instead of toward Him. God’s people are called to follow God to His blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-6.)
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for follow is rāḏap̄ and it can also mean, “Pursue, chase, run after, persecute or harass,” depending on the context.
It takes discipline and faith to follow the ways of God instead of the world and even our heart (Numbers 15:39, Jeremiah 17:9.) The Jewish education system was established to help God’s people obey and follow the Torah (Deuteronomy 11:18-19, Proverbs 22:6.)
All of God’s people are called to obey God’s law and follow His ways. But the best and the brightest become disciples of a specific teacher who teaches them a specific way to learn and live by the commands of God. Below are four basic movements of discipleship in Judaism.
- Separate
- Learn
- Repeat
- Share
In Judaism a disciple can only follow one rabbi at a time; you cannot serve two masters at the same time, because you aligned your life with the teachings of your master only (Matthew 6: 24.) Jesus taught His followers to deny themselves if they wanted to follow Him (Matthew 16:24.)
A disciple cannot follow their Rabbi and do whatever they want, this denying self theme is prevalent throughout the teachings of Jesus. He emphasized this principle throughout His earthly ministry (Luke 5:9-11; 14:25-33.)
The call to follow Jesus is abandoning everything else we hold dear. That is why one day Jesus will separate the goats from the sheep; goats follow no one else except for their fleshly desires (Matthew 25:31-46.) As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we can better understand the importance of following the right shepherd and not running with the goats or following the hired hands (John 10:12.)
Thanksgiving
As I write this, millions of Americans are traveling to visit family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. There is also a major winter storm wreaking havoc from coast to coast. Travel is dangerous and possibly deadly if you don’t heed the precautions of weathermen.
It is foolish to take off and travel a route that isn’t safe, just because everyone else is and it is unwise to follow the crowd because it may be popular and easy (Matthew 7:13.)
The world’s ways are easy and fast, God’s ways are hard and take time, but they lead to true blessings (Deuteronomy 11:26-28.) We can be thankful we follow the Good Shepherd who knows what is best for us.
- Joy
- Eternal life
- Righteousness
We cannot forget that like sheep, we are easily led astray by the things of this world that can never give us true peace (Psalm 119:176, Isaiah 53:6, 1 Peter 7:25.) Sheep will follow everyone or anything that offers them what they want.
Likewise, turkeys will follow a farmer straight to the slaughterhouse. That is why it is imperative to be discerning about who we rāḏap̄!
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