Here we are at Day four of counting the Omer, in the First week of 7 weeks, culminating in the Festival of Shavuot.
I have titled today’s count after the song title who’s tag line says so much of what the world sadly believes… “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” That title poses a question that deserves an answer……………………….Answer: EVERYTHING, if the world will ever reach it’s purpose, and potential. Everything, if you and I want to live a life that has meaning. Everything, if you want to be a person of value. Everything if you plan on finding true Shalom. Everything if you claim to serve The Most High G-d. Everything, if you are the G-D who created Everything! It is the Foundation for Everything in the Bible.
For those of you who have read the Brit Chadashah (Re-Newed Covenant), This is what Rabbi Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) is trying to convey to us in First Corinthians Chapter 13. Read it, devour it, make it a priority to live it! Chesed (charity) is the purpose of the Whole Bible from beginning to end, yet the demonstration of it in the lives of the people who are the recipients of it……well, lets just say we fall short daily.
Chesed, is a “Way” of Life. Out of it flows the way to G-D, the Truth of G-D and the Life of G-D. You can’t get to G-D without it. You can’t make it to Shamayim (Heaven) except by Love….. but not just any love, it must be perfect love. This kind of love is ALWAYS Giving as described in 1st Corinthians chapter 13, but it has a precursor, a owners manual of type. First in Yochanan chapter 3:16 ” For G-d so LOVED the world that He GAVE His ONLY begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him, should have everlasting life.
Then Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) tells us plainly in [Jhn 14:6 NKJV] 6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
After we choose to follow Yeshua as the “Way, Truth and Life, we have become His Talmidim (disciples). Now that is where the rubber meets the road…… that has led us to Day 4 of Counting the Omer.
Yeshua asks us a profound question that I believe is meant for counting the Omer. Counting the Omer is meant to get us back to “center,” back to what is really important, to recognizing the characteristics that G-D breathed into us, Adam, on the day he was Born. If that is the case, then we must pay close attention to the ONE who exemplified LOVE!
Sharing the Love of Yeshua In Africa
Before you read the question, be ready to answer it honestly, because your spiritual walk depends on it. Ok, here is the question Yeshua asks. It is found in Luke Chapter 6:46…“But why do you call Me ‘L-rd, L-rd,’ and not do the things which I say?
What is your answer? Mine is lack of Chesed (love). Now you know why the Apostle Paul wrote 1st Corinthians chapter 13. it is to remind us of why we are called the Talmidim of Yeshua (Disciples of Jesus). We are to BE LIKE HIM if we are truly His followers.
One of the things I love about the Word is it’s flow and movement, it;’s constantly reminding us of whose are supposed to be. It defines us and our purpose. It washes us, instructs us, encourages us and corrects us. Still, even in correction His love shines through, shouting out to us “you can make it! Get you eyes back on ME, turn your heart back to Me….I love you. Why don’t we do that right now. Take a moment and ask Messiah Yeshua to wash you, cleanse you, get you back on the track of Chesed (Love). Take time today, tomorrow, this week and the rest of the 45 days of counting the Omer to “Do” acts of kindness and love. Let’s the world Yeshua in what we do, not just what we say. Let’s return to our first love and obey His commands. Feed the poor, visit the sick and preach the Gospel by giving Love:)
Proverbs 19:17 teaches….He who has pity on the poor lends to the L-RD, And He will pay back what he has given.
If you do not have a way of “Going” and “Doing” yourself, please consider making a Donation to The Rock Of Israel Congregation by Clicking on the provided link at: www.rockofisraelcongregation.org Look for the “Donate” page on the left in the menu. By doing so, you empower us to help others through your Love in action. You will have done a mitzvah (kept the commandment) of Chesed by help us to help others. May Adonai send B’rachot (Blessings) down from Shamayim (Heaven) to you!
New Shoes and full bellies equal happy children:)
Today is Day four of counting the Omer….
Count the Omer: Recite the following on day Four.
Say, This is the first week and the fourth day of counting the Omer:
The following shows the counting for day four. Do the same for the following 45 days inserting the number of that day.
Each evening, beginning with the day after the Sabbath after Passover, while standing, one first recites the blessing for the mitzvah of counting, and then declares the number of days and weeks of the Omer count:
Recite the blessing:
Traditional:
Baruch atah adonay eloheynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu
bemitzvotav vetzivanu al sefirat ha’omer
Blessed are you O L-rd our G-d,
King of the Universe who has sanctified us by your commandments
and commanded us to count the Omer.
Messianic Blessing:
Blessed are You O L-rd our G-D, King of the Universe
Who cleansed us through Yeshua our Messiah and by His Commandments
and has commanded us to count the Omer.
Today O Mighty, Loving G-D, I thank you for loving me; sending Yeshua to fill my life with your love. I place my Trust in Yeshua the Only begotten Son of the Most High G-D as my Savior and Love you for loving me so very much. Wash me of all my sins for trying to live life my way. Teach me your Ways O Mighty G-D, that I might learn them and do them, as are written in your Holy Word.
B”Shem Yeshua (In the Name of Jesus),
Rabbi Cliff
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