Praise and Worship Music (3)
“The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4 NASB
Faithfulness – Does Moses’ next line describe your God? Is He a God of faithfulness? First, we need to know about this Hebrew word, emunah. We have a lot of background with this word (see February 7, August 15 and 17 for starters). Right now we need to remember that emunah is about attitude and conduct, not about some abstract idea called “faith.” In other words, God demonstrates Himself to be faithful because His actions are consistent with His promises. God does what He says He will do!
Is that your definition of faithful? Are you a person who does what you say you will do? Are you a person who keeps your promise? Perhaps this word emunah is growing in you. Perhaps you are walking the pathway with God and discovering that you are becoming like Him; someone who is more and more reliable and trustworthy. What Moshe says about God is exactly the same as what Yeshua asks of us. Become one who always does what you promise.
It’s important to realize that emunah is not translated by the Greek word alethia (truth) but rather by the word pistis (faith). This means that the New Testament concept of faith is also about keeping promises! To have faith in Yeshua is to keep His commandments. Once we see that emunah stands behind pistis, we understand that the claim of faith without the actions of the commandments is not only mistaken, it is empty. There is no faith without follow-through, just as there is no promise without performance. The separation of faith from action is heresy.
God always does what He says He will do! And what He says He will do never is unjust. God keeps His promises and His promises are always holy, righteous and upright. God never fails. If this sounds a bit like Paul’s dissertation of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8), we should not be surprised. Paul, the Jewish rabbi, knew very well that emunah was the bases of agape.
Two important lessons emerge from Moshe’s lyrics. First, we can count on God’s word. That’s music to our ears if we are being obedient to Him. He will not leave us orphans. He will complete His work in us. But if we are disobedient, the same faithfulness condemns us. Those who challenge His emunah in word or deed are in serious jeopardy. God does what He says He will do. That includes judgment and, eventually, wrath. Ignoring the other side of the coin of agape is very dangerous.
Secondly, we see the complete continuity between the God of Moshe and the God of Paul. Promises without performance are worthless. No man who puts his hand to the plow of following Yeshua, and fails to till the field, can claim to be rescued. Faith without works is truly dead. This requires us to evaluate our own words and deeds. Where they do not match, we must ask forgiveness and change our ways. Faith is nothing less than promises fulfilled.
Topical Index: emunah, pistis, faithfulness, faith, Deuteronomy 32:4
“Are you a person who does what you say you will do?”
Hmmm
Sounds like the Hero in the movie Heat
A chief detective played by Al Pacino, whose personal life is a mess
But this detective takes his job very seriously and he describes himself with the following line:
“I say what I mean, and I do what I say.”
Good morning Michael,
My question to you this mid-morning for me – is with the chief detective – his personal life being such a mess but his slogan was this: “I say what I mean, and I do what I say.” in the movie did that ever spill over & correct the mess in his personal life???
i don’t recall ever seeing the movie but i will look at the trailers to help jog my memory…
is it okay to be functioning righteously in our career(s) but not our personal lives – not saying that we don’t all struggle with these same issues but just wondering how that lines up with God??? seems eventually all should come together & we walk circumspectly in all areas of our lives…
guess i just want it all… 🙂 ♥
jan
in the movie does the detective maintain two lifestyles – one in public & one in private – i would fear that God would disapprove & cause something to give & make both areas of ones life “I say what I mean, and I do what I say.” seems that would be the goal & a life made good & perfect in Christ/YESHUA… ♥
Faith is our right-response to the word(s) of G-d. G-d asked Abraham (not commanded!- remember “na?”) to sacrifice his one and only beloved son. What is our “right-response?” G-d initiates-we respond.
G-d (purposefullly,knowingly) tested the friendship of Abraham. Yes, “life is a (continual) test”-for we too are daily “tested.” G-d slices into the melon (us), with His words to inspect the quality of the fruit within us. -The fruit of the Spirit. G-d is the Fruit Inspector- not me, not you- Him.
But we look for fruit- don’t we? Maybe because we are made in the likeness of the Fruit Inspector- I want to see fruit in the lives of my family and friends. I want (yes, desire) to see love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,meekness in the lives of others- especially those who live in close proximity to me.
But what about me?- What do my words reveal about me? What about my actions- and even more “revealing”- my re-actions. What’s down in the well is going to come up in the bucket. Cut me off in traffic and see what spills out of me! – Please don’t make me angry- you wouldn’t like me if I was angry! (aka-the Incredible Bulk!) Who (I’m askin’) likes to be around angry people? -Not this boy. Dont’ want to be one either- Anger is a “work” (as in evidence) of the flesh- yes, the yetser hara, ol’ number 1) Have we forgotten the scripture? (surely not!) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, (made clear for all to see or to witness) which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of G-d.” (Galatians 5.20.21)
But the fruit (works/results) of the Ruach HaKodesh (the HOLY BREATH) is… -How do you know I belong to the Master? Look for fruit in my life- look for these things- are these things made manifest (clear and plain as the nose upon my face?)- How do you know I am an apple tree? Do I bear apples? Voila!- now you know. Or maybe a plum tree or a pear- maybe even a peach! (love those peaches!)
Is there joy in your life- right now? Or peace? Or love?- Or is there a ‘root of bitterness’ or pride or envy or covetousness? -I’ve been battling covetousness lately. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” and contentment is a learned behavior. – For me- ‘taint easy! “but G-d is Faithful!”- Is He ever!
And patient like nobody’s business!- Is ‘patience’ one of the fruits of the Spirit? Endurance? Long-suffering? We have a list to look at and review.. “Works” of the flesh or “works” of the Spirit.
“For the mind (the sinful mind, the carnal mind) that is set on the flesh is hostile to G-d, for it does not submit to G-d’s law; indeed, it cannot.” (Romans 8.7)
This, friends, is a “big-dot deal.” We have been discussing at great length obedience to the Torah (instructions) of YHVH and the yetser hara. Before me are the teachings of G-d. Do I desire to submit unto these teachings? His words. Or do I “want” to rebel and go my own way- the way of the flesh- the way of “self?” Self or the Savior,- these are our choices. Choose you (Carl E.) this day- (today) who will you serve? But as for me and my house- we will (purposefully-intentionally-willfully-gladly-freely-fully-knowingly) serve (avad!) the LORD. “ADONAI”- my LORD and my G-d! For you see friends- (please observe- please, be witness to these things-)- the LORD is my Sovereign Shepherd (also.).
“…we need to remember that emunah is about attitude and conduct…Paul, the Jewish rabbi, knew very well that emunah was the bases of agape…This requires us to evaluate our own words and deeds. Where they do not match, we must ask forgiveness and change our ways.”
In other words, when our behavior, and even our attitude is contrary to what Yeshua taught about loving our enemies, then we not only are not loving them, we are not trusting in Yeshua’s commandment.