Kyle W

5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” Genesis 22:5 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your [n]descendants shall be called.” 19 [o]He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [p]as a type. Hebrews 11:17-19

Wisdom’s Rebuke 20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall[d] she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:20-33

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Trials and Temptations 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:1-18

Real Discernment Produces Love “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,” —Philippians 1:9 Reflection What our culture thinks is love is often deceptive. False love is powerful. It feels like love but is rooted in selfish interest, sensuality, or both. If our so-called love is focused on someone because that person makes us feel good or can do something for us, it is not agape, or real love. This is why Paul prayed that our love would abound in real knowledge and all discernment. Similarly, James describes two types of wisdom. There is wisdom that is pure, godly, full of light, and beautiful. But there is another type of wisdom that is demonic (James 3:13–18). In order for our love to grow, we need real knowledge and discernment. Real knowledge is not having insight into somebody’s life in order to accuse them. That’s not real discernment; that’s the spirit of the accuser of the brethren, Satan. God is love, and if the knowledge someone receives causes them to accuse instead of love, it’s not from God. The enemy’s false knowledge makes us aware of a person’s weakness, vulnerability, and sin, but real knowledge allows us to look past their sin, have compassion on them, and understand why they do some of the things they do. People do sinful things, but we have to be able to look beyond their sin to see their need and love them. Consider a woman caught in prostitution. Rather than simply seeing her sin, Father sees a woman who may have grown up without a father to affirm her or anyone to tell her she had dignity. She may never have had someone to help her develop healthy self-esteem and self-respect. Because of His love, the Lord sees beyond the sinful act and into her heart. He loves her despite her sin. Over the years, I have seen how the enemy uses false knowledge and false discernment to bring accusation and create division among believers. We need to guard our hearts against the enemy, who is called the accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10. When someone hurts us or when we feel threatened, jealous, or envious of someone, we need to be especially vigilant. Sometimes people claim their actions are out of love or discernment without recognizing that they are being fueled by their own hurt and pride. They begin spreading accusations and believe they are doing God’s work. That is not real discernment. Real knowledge and discernment produce love. People with real discernment practice self-discipline by stopping before responding in pride or anger. They recognize the enemy’s influence and reject it. They come into agreement with the love of God that covers a multitude of sins and strive to forgive, overcome evil with good, and speak blessing instead of insults. Beloved, this is how we learn to follow Jesus’ way instead of being tossed here and there by our emotions and circumstances. Real discernment causes us to walk in love as Yeshua did because we want to be like Him. Application When someone hurts you, stop before responding in pride or anger. Ask whether your response is rooted in God’s love or in your own wounded emotions. Practice real discernment by looking beyond another person’s faults to recognize their needs. Strive to forgive and speak blessing instead of insults. Prayer Father God, I ask that my love would abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. Guard my heart against false knowledge that leads to accusation and division. When someone hurts me, help me stop before responding in pride or anger. Teach me to look beyond people’s sins, recognize their needs, and overcome evil with good. I want to walk in love as Yeshua did because I want to be like Him. Amen. Rabbi Schneider

Good morning love you’ll. Thank you Jesus for another breath!

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Romans 6:15

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. 10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”— 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. Proverbs 1:8-19

Concluding Exhortations 13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a] 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”[b] 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. Benediction and Final Greetings 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25 Grace be with you all. Hebrews 13

God Made the First Move “Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” —Genesis 3:9 Reflection God made the first move. When time did not exist, God began it. When the earth was formless, He put shape and order to it. And when God desired fellowship, He created humans in His own image. He took the initiative in creating us so that we might know Him and enjoy Him. This principle of God’s initiative is fundamental to understanding salvation. Simply put, salvation does not start, nor has it ever started, nor will it ever start, with us. When it comes to salvation, God takes the initiative, just as He took the initiative to start a relationship with us by forming us from dust. When Adam and Eve sinned and brought separation between themselves and God, who was the one who pursued the other? God. In Genesis 3:9, the Lord called out to Adam while the man and his wife were attempting to hide from their Creator. Who was the one who made a way for restoration? God. Who was the one who, in His grace, covered Adam’s and Eve’s nakedness and shame (Genesis 3:21)? God. The Lord started the first relationship with mankind, and He always took the initiative to keep that relationship intact. Beginning with Adam, the Hebrew Bible is one continuous story of God reaching out to mankind. In Genesis 12, God called Abraham from a family of pagans and polytheists. We have no indication whatsoever that Abraham did anything special to merit God’s attention. There is no mention of him being so righteous that it got God’s attention from heaven. Yet God chose him not because of his goodness or his works but because of the Lord’s sovereign grace. God made the first move and appeared to Abraham, establishing a covenant that continues to this day. In the same way, God later chose Israel as His people not because of any goodness that they inherently possessed or because of their potential. In fact, Scripture tells us they were the fewest of all peoples (Deuteronomy 7:7). Exodus 32:9 even describes them as a stiff-necked people. They did nothing to merit God’s selection. Instead, the Lord chose them purely because He loved them. Deuteronomy 7:6–8 makes this beautiful truth clear. Israel was not chosen because of its greatness or accomplishments, but because of God’s love and His faithfulness to the covenant He made with their fathers. Beloved, consider what this reveals about the heart of God. From the creation of mankind to His pursuit of Adam and Eve, His calling of Abraham, and His choosing of Israel, the Lord has always been the One who takes the initiative. Salvation begins with God, not with us. Application Remember that your relationship with God begins with His initiative, not your own efforts or accomplishments. Reflect on how God pursued Adam, called Abraham, and chose Israel. Thank Him for His sovereign grace and love. Prayer Father God, thank You for taking the initiative to create me so that I might know You and enjoy fellowship with You. Thank You that salvation begins with Your grace and not with anything I can accomplish. Help me to understand the depth of Your love and to stop thinking that I must earn Your attention. Open my heart to receive Your grace and respond to You in faith. I love You, Father, and thank You for reaching out to me. Amen. Rabbi Schneider

He Desires You “I am my beloved’s, And his desire is for me.” —Song of Solomon 7:10 Reflection The Song of Songs presents a beautiful picture of love between a bridegroom and his bride, a woman known as the Shulamite. Their relationship also gives us a spiritual picture of our relationship with Messiah Jesus. In Song of Songs 7:9, the Bridegroom compares his beloved to the best wine. We can apply this in a very practical way. When we are struggling to obey God in something He has asked us to do, we can confess by faith, “Your wine goes down smoothly. I will obey You.” 1 John 5:3 says God’s commandments are not burdensome. We must come to a place in life where we are not choking on His will. When we are strengthened and perfected in love, we say yes to Father God, yes to His will, and confess, “Your will is smooth and pleasant, not burdensome.” For instance, if the Lord nudges you to witness to somebody in public, rather than hem and haw and struggle and resist, say, “Father, I will obey You. This task is not a burden to me because Your wine goes down smoothly.” I am also encouraged by the last part of verse 9, which speaks of wine flowing gently through the lips of those who fall asleep. Here I see Messiah Jesus reminding us that His love flows gently to us even when we’re sleeping. That doesn’t mean our dreams will always be sweet. We are in a spiritual battle, beloved one, but God is protecting us in the midst of the fight. Like the Shulamite bride, we can have confidence that whether we are awake or asleep, Yeshua’s love surrounds and protects us. Notice the subtle nuance of verse 10, when the Shulamite declares, “I am my beloved’s, And his desire is for me.” Gone is her prior emphasis on saying, “He is mine.” That is still true, but her focus is not on possessing Him for her own benefit, but on Him possessing her for His benefit. Her perspective has changed. Her beautiful journey has brought her to maturity. She knows without a hint of doubt that the King desires her. She is completely secure in this fact. The Lord wants us to understand that He desires us too. Some of us have a hard time believing this because the devil has used shame, guilt, self-contempt, and accusation to keep us from believing that God desires us. When we reject ourselves, it renders us incapable of receiving the love of God. Beloved one, you must be able to say and believe, “His desire is for me.” Come into agreement with Father God right now. We are the pinnacle of His creation, and He made us in His own image. The Spirit of Messiah Jesus Himself, who is ultimate beauty, lives in you. If you’ve been struggling to accept the fact that God desires you, let Messiah wash that self-rejection off you and bring you out of darkness. Let Him reveal how much He loves you so that, like the Shulamite bride, you will be able to say with confidence, “He desires me!” Application When you struggle to obey God’s will, remember that His commandments are not burdensome. Choose to say yes to Him in faith. Reject the shame and self-contempt that keep you from receiving God’s love. Confess with confidence, “His desire is for me.” Prayer Father God, thank You for loving me and desiring a relationship with me. Help me to receive Your love and let go of the shame, guilt, and self-rejection that keep me from believing how precious I am to You. Strengthen me in Your love so that I can obey Your will without resistance. Let me rest securely in the knowledge that Your love surrounds and protects me. I belong to You, and Your desire is for me. Amen. Rabbi Schneider

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:37

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.[b] 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.[c] 4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” 9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15 My mouth[d] is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce[e] my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. 19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. 22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. 25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you[f] I will fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! Psalm 22

24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26

The gospel of Happy, Healthy, Wealthy is a lie

Purpose and Theme 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a] knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b] 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:1-7

Warning and Encouragement 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy 18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d] 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:14-29