Middot U'Mitzvot: Character Qualities and Commandments
Holy or Profane?


G-d's Torah is the best source of instruction
in character qualities and holy living


Holy or Profane? - Clean and Unclean

“They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

God doesn’t make rules just to make rules. He always has our best interest at heart. He knows what is good for us and He knows what is bad for us. When He asks us not to do or to eat something there is always a good reason behind it – even if we can’t see that reason or don’t understand it. In the verse above, Ezekiel is speaking to the priests. And, according to Revelation 5:10, we are priests of God. As priests we are to know and to teach others the difference between the holy and the common – between the clean and the unclean. As children of the King and priests of His Kingdom, we are to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to the King. What is pleasing to the King is to obey His commands. What is pleasing to the King is to let go and to stay away from those things which are common and unclean and to take hold of those things that are holy and clean. So, how can you help one another to tell the difference between the clean and the unclean? And, how can you help each other to live holy and pleasing lives unto God?

Nothing Is Too Difficult for God - God is in Control

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Do you ever feel like life is impossible? That it’s just too difficult to deal with? You’re not alone. Everybody goes through times and experiences feelings like this. The question is: how do you handle these feelings? Do you give up, withdraw, and walk away? Or, do you look to God for help? God is our Creator King. He made everything. He knows exactly what we are going through and how we feel. He is always in control and He always knows the answer – we just have to ask Him for help and then trust that He will be there for us. No matter how out of control or difficult life seems to be, nothing is too difficult for our Creator King. And, there is a song that can help us to remember this: “Nothing! Nothing! Absolutely Nothing! Nothing is too difficult for You (God)!” Whatever it is, God can handle it. And, with His help, you can too.

The Body of Messiah - A Role to Play

“God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as He wanted them…now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:18, 27

No matter how young or old you are you have a role to play in the Kingdom of God. God has given each one of us a specific task to do and a special talent to use for His Glory. We are all a part of God’s Messianic community and, just like the human body needs all of its parts working together to do its best and to accomplish its goals, God needs each one of us to do our part as a member of His community. No task is too small and no talent is insignificant. What would you do without your big toe or your thumb? It would be much more difficult to pick things up or to balance or to run. It’s the same in the community of God. If you think you can’t contribute anything and don’t become involved, then the community is missing a very important member and it won’t be able to be the best that it can be. We are all important in God’s eyes and we are all needed in the Body of Messiah. So, what is your role? How can you play a part in the community of God? Go ahead and help each other discover where it is that you fit in.

On Fire for God - Zealous for Torah

“On hearing it, they praised God; but they also said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of believers there are among the Judeans, and they are all zealots for the Torah.’” Acts 21:20

What does it mean to be zealous for something? It means to be intensely passionate. It means that you are “pumped up” and very excited about something. And, that’s how the believers of the first century felt about the Torah of God. Many Jewish people, in fact, tens of thousands of Jewish people, came to believe that Yeshua was the Messiah during the first century. But, the difference between the believers of the first century and those of today was their zeal, or their passion, for God’s Torah. The first believers were on fire for God and they had a deep love for His Torah. This should serve as an example to us. What are we zealous for today? What stirs up our emotions? What are we passionate about? Is it sports or friends or money or fame? Or, is it God’s Torah? Most of the world has chosen to get “pumped up” about fame and fortune—about success and money. But, as children of the King, we are to be zealous—we are to be “pumped up”—we are to be on fire for the Word of God. So, let’s go and be zealous for His Torah!

Kehilat Sar Shalom

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