Pay Attention to the Doorposts
Sh’ma Yisra’eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad. Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
Next time you enter a Jewish person’s home or business pay attention to the doorway. You will likely see a small, decorative ornament called a mezuzah. Inside of that mezuzah is a small scroll of paper with what is referred to as the Shema (sh-MAH) – the Scripture from Deuteronomy 6:5-9, which begins with the Hebrew word Sh’ma.
The mezuzah serves as a physical reminder for Jewish people – every time they enter or leave their dwelling or business – that the Lord deserves all of my heart, soul, and might, and that his Word should be central to my walk and talk.
Often, people pause and touch the mezuzah as they pass by, reflecting on these powerful truths. The entire portion of Scripture reads:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV
I love the beauty and imagery of the mezuzah and the Shema, the principles and practices of which ought to be considered and applied in the lives, homes, and businesses of believers. However, we must not think that the “point” of this Scripture is to go out and purchase a mezuzah and affix it to our doorways. Although there is nothing wrong with that, God’s word should compel us to respond more deeply than merely adopting a Jewish tradition.
What is the point of this Scripture?
- Love God. Love Him with everything you are and all that you have. Love Him with your heart (the deepest part of you), love Him by meditating on Him in your thoughts, love Him by your actions and with your energy and efforts. Love Him first of all and most of all.
- Build your life on God’s Word. Read it, memorize it, mediatate on it, teach it to your children, talk about it, listen to it, sing it, shout it, write it, display it …but most of all, hear it and obey it. God’s word is the bread of life – the essence of what sustains life itself. Man shall not live by (physical) bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4)
Our relationship with God is really the point. And God’s Word is like that mezuzah – a daily reminder of God’s faithfulness and our privilege to know Him as sons and daughters.
Our relationship with the Father through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus is made alive in us every day by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This relationship is central to our “going out” and “coming in”, and is not merely to be considered and practiced on Sundays at church. Everywhere I go, He is already there. He never leaves me.
May each doorpost you encounter today be a reminder to you that God loves you and His Word sustains you.
When a Decision is Required
The Apostle Paul had some of the strangest life experiences of any one person in the Scriptures.
A culturally diverse and highly educated man, “Saul” (his original name) took his religion so seriously that he sought to annihilate this new sect called “The Way” (the early church’s original name). So zealous was Saul that he was named as being there and consenting to Stephen’s death – the church’s first martyr.
One day Saul had a life-altering encounter with Jesus Christ. Traveling down the road with a team of men, Saul was struck to the ground by a bright and blinding light. A strong voice reverberated from the heavens asking, “Why are you persecuting Me?”
After that heavenly confrontation Saul was met by a disciple of Jesus named Ananias, who laid hands on him and healed his blindness, and further explained to him the way of salvation.
Saul’s conversion was perhaps one of the most significant turnaround stories in the Bible. Not only did his life change, his name changed from Saul to Paul, signifying that he was no longer who he used to be. The skeptic became the saved. The persecutor became the persecuted.
The transformation in Paul’s life was evidenced by his passion to share the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ to everyone he encountered. Paul gave the rest of his life to the mission of reaching people for Jesus. He was rejected, persecuted, arrested, beaten, and eventually killed for his faith – and considered it an honor to die for the One whom he had once persecuted.
Paul’s approach in each city was to first go the the Jewish people. If they rejected his message, he would go to the gentiles (non-Jews). Everywhere he went people experienced the power and presence of God, but he also experienced persecution.
For many years he desired to go to Rome, to encourage the believers and minister to the Roman people, he himself being a Roman citizen by birth. He did eventually make it to Rome, but not in the way he imagined it. Paul came to Rome as a prisoner.
While in Rome he was under what we might consider “house arrest”. He had a few freedoms, including the privilege to have others come in to see him. Taking full advantage of that, Paul spent two years in that residence, having hundreds of people come in for conversations about Jesus.
“When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.”
Acts 28:23-24 ESV
A subtle, but important aspect of Paul’s approach to sharing the message of Jesus is that he sat down and had logical, reasonable conversations with them. The gospel was (is) not based on emotional pleas – although he was more than passionate – the gospel was (is) something to be considered, valued, and chosen (or rejected).
The essence of the gospel is that it requires more than an emotional reaction, it demands a willful response. “What will you do with the message of Jesus? Will you accept Him by faith, or will you reject Him?”
The gospel demands a decision. What is yours?
Accepted by God; Rejected by the World
“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”Acts 7:58-60 ESV
As believers and followers of Jesus we can expect resistance and persecution. The spirit of anti-Christ is vehemently opposed to Jesus, His church, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.
Becoming a believer means, on one hand, that you are accepted, loved, and valued as a part of God’s family. On the other hand, however, you will be increasingly rejected, questioned, ridiculed, and mocked by satan, his demons, and worldly people.
If you are not experiencing some level of tension between your values and the world’s values, you are likely compromising in some areas of your life.
That being said, it doesn’t mean that believers should walk around holier-than-thou or pridefully attacking people of the world. We ought to walk in grace, be kind, be generous, and show the love of God; but we also must stand for truth, live authentic lives to please God, and be willing to be persecuted for our faith in Jesus Christ.
Although persecution and resistance are to be expected in the life of a believer, we must also keep in mind that during those times, Jesus is very close to us and blesses us in unimaginable ways. Stephen, thenchurch’s first martyr, was able to look up, while being stoned to death, and see Jesus standing, awaiting his arrival. He even had the grace to extend forgivness to his executers.
It reminds me of what Jesus said:
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 ESV
Pastor Dale Jenkins 