Ed Christian's World

The Yehudim…

Did you ever wonder, Grandfather asked, what the word Jew means or where it comes from? In Hebrew, the word for the Jewish people is the Yehundim. It comes from the Hebrew word for praise, thanksgiving and worship. A Jew is one whose identity is based on praising God, giving thanks and worshiping the Almighty. A Jew is one whose very existence is a praise and witness to the existence of God.

It’s strange that a name linked to praise should become a word of vilification, that a word linked to worship should be used as a profanity and a word linked to thanksgiving could be used for cursing. It seems disconcerting to me I replied.

Yes, it’s a strange world, replied Grandfather, where those born to praise and give thanks should be so hated, cursed and warred against. What was it that was written over Jesus’s head when He died?

King of the Jews, I replied.

King of the Yehudim, Grandfather said. His life was the epitome of the word Jew. His life itself was a praise to God. Everything He did was to bless, to worship, to glorify God.

And the world crucified Him whose life was a praise to God.

A strange world, Grandfather said again, and yet even in the crucifixion, He didn’t stop being the King of the Jews, the epitome of the Yehudim. Even the act of dying was an act of praise, a gloifying of God. He never succumbed to the evil…but overcame the evil with good. He blessed those who cursed Him and even gave His life to save them.

And those who follow Him, I said, those who are His, must do likewise.

Yes. Never be overcome by evil or let it stop you from blessing or giving praise. In all things give thanks. At all times, give praise. Bless in the face of cursing. Make your life a vessel of praise. For if He who is King of the Yehudim is your King, then you also be of the Yehudim

Meaning Jewish?

Meaning one whose very existence …is now a praise to God!

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives m strength. Philippians 4:11-13

Today, praise God, give thanks and bless. No matter what the circumstance, no matter what goes on around you or against you, praise God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The candle…

Grandfather led us outside his living quarters where we all sat down by a table. On the table was a lit candle. The sky began to darken. When we first sat down, he said, the sun was still shining, even on the candle. The light of the candle blended in with the light of the day. The two lights were in harmony. But then what happened?

It grew dark, I said.

So now the light of the candle was no longer in harmony with its surroundings. It no longer blended in. As the sky darkened, the candle stood out more and more dramatically. It was not the candle that changed, but everything around it. So now it was shining in marked contrast to its surroundings and against the darkness.

And what does that tells us? I asked.

The candle in the day, Grandfather said, represents the believer who shines in the midst of the Christian civilization. It’s light blends in with the surrounding culture. The culture is in harmony with the light, at least on the outside, and appears to support it.

But the candle in the night represents the believer who shines in the midst of a post-Christian civilization, an apostate civilization, an anti-Christian, anti-biblical, anti-God civilization. Now the culture supports and the external props are removed. The light of the Gospel is no longer in harmony with the surrounding culture. The surrounding culture now stands increasingly in opposition to the light. The light cannot blend in. It must now increasingly stand out in contrast to its surroundings and increasingly shine against the flow. So if you had a choice, which candle would you rather be, the candle of the day or the candle of the night?

Most would say the candle of the day, I responded.

But it is the the candle of the night that changes the world. The candle that shines in the daylight can hardly be seen. But the candle that shines in the darkness can be seen miles away. It is at the very time when it’s hardest to shine the light, that it is the most crucial that you do. It is then that the light is most needed. And that is when the light becomes its most powerful. So never fear the darkness. You’re a light. Shine into it, especially into the night…and you’ll light up the world.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Live today as a candle in the night. Don’t fear the darkness or be intimidated by it. But shine all the more brightly against the night.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Stone Of Contempt…

Psalms 118:22 says, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” In Hebrew, the word used for rejected is the word “ma‘as.” Jesus is the stone, and according to the Hebrew “ma‘as” – He, as the stone, would be spurned, abhorred, held in contempt, despised, and loathed. And so He was. But “ma‘as” also means “cut off” – a Biblical way of saying “killed.”

Jesus was killed – crucified. If Messiah Yeshua, Jesus fulfilled the first part of that ancient prophecy, then He will fulfill the second part as well. “The rejected stone will become the chief cornerstone.” He’ll be lifted up as the final and most glorious crowning stone of the Kingdom of Israel.

That’s the way of Jesus, the Cornerstone. And if you are His follower, then it’s true for you too. As you follow the Lord, every rejection, pain, wound, and wrong you’ve ever suffered will be turned around for your good as the Lord lifts you up and turns every sorrow to glory. For that is the final chapter of the Stone of Contempt.

So this is what the Sovereign Lordsays: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16

Today, bring every wrong, pain, wound, and rejection you’ve known to the Lord. Let go of it and trust Him to turn everything around for good.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lights 0f God…

When the astronomer Edwin Frost of the Yerkes Observatory was nearing his death, he was asked, “Doctor, are you afraid to die?” Frost, who had lost his eyesight, smiled and shook his head, “I’ve seen too many stars to be afraid of the night.”

Most people think of the night as something negative, or something of absence. But to an astronomer, night is the time of revelation, of mysteries, and fullness. It’s the night that reveals the stars

Take this attitude of the astronomer to every part of your life. See the dark times of your life in a new way. They are there to reveal the blessings and faithfulness of God – even the lights of God.

For the righteous shine as stars. When? At night. For stars and astronomers, the night is the time of shining, and blessing. Therefore, don’t fear the dark times, the hard times, or the bad times. For it’s in the night when the stars shine most bright. Don’t focus on the dark, but focus on shining. And remember that it’s at night when God’s blessings and faithfulness also shine. And you’ve seen too many stars to be afraid of the night.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Don’t fear the darkness, but use it for God’s glory. Become the blessing in your circumstance and the light in your darkness.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Stand Strong…

I remember one high school gym class where they had us play soccer. They assigned me and some others to play the defense along with the goalkeeper. But the other players on our team were so good, that all the action took place down at the other end of the field. No action took place on our end.

So after a while, we decided to take it easy and spent the rest of the game reclining on the grass as if on lawn chairs.

But there’s an important principle there. The reason why we could be so relaxed on defense was because those who were on the offense were good and aggressive. As it is said, “The best defense is a good offense.”

It’s true in the Lord as well. Don’t live in the Lord just trying to maintain your ground as the world, the flesh, and the devil attack. Because then you’ll always be living on the defense and up against a wall. Rather, live on the spiritual offense. Always press forward and take new ground. You stay on the offense, and make the enemy be on defense.

Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers. Proverbs 24:6

Stay on the spiritual offense, press forward, and take new ground for the Lord.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Soldier…

During World War II , the Danish monarch, King Christian X, spotted a Nazi swastika flying over a public building. “Take it down,” demanded the king to a German officer guarding the building. The officer indignantly refused. “The flag must be removed before 12 o’clock; otherwise I will send a soldier to do it,” answered the king. “The soldier will be shot,” the officer replied. “I am the soldier,” replied the king. The swastika was removed from the building. King Christian was able to resist the evil of Nazism on more than one occasion. And the secret was that he put his life where his convictions were.

It’s true in the Lord as well. If you’re going to make a stand for righteousness and against evil, if you’re going to make a difference in this world, then you have to do likewise. Righteousness has a cost — pay it.

Whatever sacrifice, price, risk, whatever it means, do the right thing. Because the will and authority of God is with the righteous and no matter what, in the end, they overcome.

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Revelation 3:5

Take a stand for righteousness, and against evil. Make a difference in this world for Jesus.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,
Ed

The Heaven And Earth Connection…

We stood at the bottom of an empty cistern. I had asked Grandfather to show me, as I had never seen one before. We were now ready to leave.

Look, he said, that is our only hope. He was pointing at the ladder, the same ladder we had climbed down to get where we were. Without the ladder, he said, we’d be stuck here at the bottom and what if it only went halfway up to the top?

Feeling I was about to learn a lesson in life I responded, if it didn’t reach the top it wouldn’t do us any good.

Well, what if it statrted at the top and only reached halfway down?

If it didn’t reach the bottom, it wouldn’t do us any good either, we would be stuck here either way.

Then, he said, what about getting into heaven? How high is heaven above the earth? How great is the distance that separates man from God, and sin from the Most Holy? How long would that ladder have to be…to get you into heaven?

I thought for a minute, then said as high and as long as the distance that separates man from God, a ladder between heaven and earth.

It was that ladder that Jacob saw in his dream, a ladder from heaven to earth. It was the shadow of Jesus, that which joins heaven to earth, and God to man. It can only work if the ladder touches both ends, the highest height with the lowest depth. So the Most High had to descend to the most low of depths so that those in the lowest depths could ascend to the highest heights. The Most Heavenly had to become earthly so those who were earthly could become heavenly. And the Most Holy had to join Himself to the most unholy, the Holy One joined to the lowest of sins, the Most Sacred to the most profane… so God descended to the deepest depths of darkness, to the lowest rung of degradation and judgement.

I said to the bottom of Jacobs ladder, that which joins earth to heaven…

Therefore, Grandfather added, no matter how low you find yourself, no matter how lost you are, no matter how sinful, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far from God you are… no matter how deep the pit you find yourself in…look for the ladder…and it will be there to take you out. The ladder will be there with one end touching the bottom of your lowest depths, and the other end reaching the Most High.

He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51

Wherever you are there is a ladder connecting you to the Most High. Find the first rung of heaven’s ladder and take it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Mysteries Of The Lamb…

We were sitting under a tree down in the canyon. Grandfather pulled out a small book and began to read. “I looked and behold in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb. …In the midst of the throne stood a lamb.”

This is the vision given to Yochanan in the Book of Revelation. Do you see anything strange about it?

I sat up and responded everything, the four living creatures, the elders, the lamb… He then asked what about the lamb on a throne? I said why is that any stranger than the rest?

Let’s think about it. A lamb, the most defenseless of creatures, so weak it must be protected not only by it’s mother but by a shepherd… That’s what’s so strange about the vision. The Lamb is on the throne. The Lamb is king. The Lamb reigns over all. A lion would make sense, but not a lamb… the most powerless of creatures reigning on a throne with all power and over all.

And it’s the symbol of Jesus, the Messiah! I said.

Yes, Grandfather said, He who reigns over the kingdom of God. So the kingdom of God will be the kingdom of the Lamb. How radical is that …a Lamb upon a throne? It goes against the way of the animal kingdom and that of man’s kingdoms. But the kingdom of God doesn’t work according to the laws of the world, but by it’s own laws. So to prosper in God you must learn the secrets of that kingdom.

In the world, it is the strong and the fierce who rule. But in the kingdom of God, it is the Lamb that rules. So in the kingdom of the Lamb, the weak are strong and the strong are weak. So, in this kingdom if you would have, you must let go. If you would receive, you must give. If you lower yourself, you will be lifted up. If you become little, you will become great. If you lose yourself, you will find yourself. If you surrender, you will prevail. And if you die to yourself …you will find life.

As He died and found life, I said, and as He surrendered all and has prevailed over the world and has become all.

So, if you walk in the footsteps of the Lamb, you too will prevail and overcome the world. For we are the most radical of the kingdom …the kingdom of the Lamb.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12 9-10

Live this day in the way of the Lamb. Let go that you might have. Die that you might live. And surrender that you might overcome.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

• “When thunder roars, go indoors!” is a truism that actually holds up. But much of what we think we know about lightning is fiction. Here are some common myths, along with the facts that will keep you and your loved ones safe in a storm.

The Shelter Of God…

Durring the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein was sending scud missiles into the land of Israel, aiming especially for its cities. During one attack, about 200 people gathered together to seek shelter inside a building. The missile struck their building, and it came crashing down. There was a smell of burning sulfur, and a thick cloud of dust filled the room.

When the explosion was over, and the dust began to clear, everyone was in total astonishment to learn that not one of the 200 people were touched. God promised Israel He would keep them and that no matter what evil came against them, they would survive. And the proof of God’s Word is the existence of the nation of Israel itself.

If you’re born again, you’re a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel. And so you too have a promise. Whatever is against you, problem, threat, danger, trouble, conflict… far greater than anything against you – is He who is for you. And as you trust in Him, you will be kept.

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. Genesis 17:7

Don’t fear your problems or anything that is set against you. Focus instead on the much stronger power of the One who is for you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed