Walking in Step with the Spirit Part 5: "If you Love Me..."

My husband and I recently rented and introduced our kids to The Ten Commandments movie from 1956. I remember watching it as a child and being bored out of my mind, but now that I am grown and understand “rules” are given to us for a reason and they are for our good (thank You to our good Father in heaven), I felt like a giddy child as I watched it with an open mind and willing heart.

I was eager and excited to see the digitally remastered film that I once dreaded. I was filled with joy as I watched my kids’ faces light up throughout the almost 4 hour movie. I couldn’t believe that they not only sat there and watched it as well as they did, but when the movie ended they were all sad that it was over. Wow! I truly thought this timeless film would have made them moan and cry because it wasn’t as fast paced and entertaining as Star Wars and Marvel, that they are used to. Nope. Not one complaint. They enjoyed it almost as much as Chris and I did. We agreed that we need to purchase the film and make watching it together an annual family tradition.

When watching movies about the Bible, and reading the Old Testament, I love how stories like those of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and all of the Judges and Prophets show us the way we can have a relationship with the Father, our Elohim (Creator God). My kids and I have been going through the Bible, starting with Genesis, and working our way through the “main” stories that lead to salvation through Yahshua (Jesus) our Messiah.

When my kids go to church, or talk with someone, I want them to understand the timeline and history of the Bible and read it like a historic book that is filled with stories that all have a major theme in common: YHWH (Yahweh) our Elohim wants so desperately to have a relationship with us that He works for thousands of years to make a way for us to come to know Him. Some people may read the stories from the Bible and think that they are good or cute stories and are nice to retell and that is it. When I read the Bible I see history come to life and lead me to hope and life found through the death, burial, and resurrection of God who became flesh and dwelt among us. That there is a Holy, Righteous, All-Powerful God out there that wants an intimate relationship with me and He stopped at nothing to give me the chance to choose Him.

When we were watching the Ten Commandments with our kids those are the things that were going through my mind. I thought of Creation and the Fall of man in Genesis and all of these Bible stories started flashing through my mind and my heart showing how this timeline of the Old Testament leads to eternal life through Yahshua Messiah. I pray and hope that others can have a hunger and thirst for YHWH’s Word like this and that it will never go away from me! After all, I desire to know my Elohim and teach my family to do the same. I desire to love Him and worship Him the way He wants and I hope I can model that kind of relationship to others.

In the gospel of John, Yahshua is telling the disciples the way to the Father and promises the gift of the Holy Spirit. Within that conversation, Yahshua tells us how we can show our love for Him.

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” - John 14:15

“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember my words are not my own.” - John 14:23-24

If I love Yahshua, I will obey His commands. If I don’t love Him, I will disobey His commands.

It sounds simple enough, right? If it this simple, why do we make following Yahshua’s commands so hard? Why do we add burdensome legalism and try changing His laws to fit within our own lifestyle and beliefs?

That’s what we see in modern Christianity, today. In our defense, that’s what Yahshua saw during His time on earth, too. The Pharisees often changed YHWH’s laws/commands to fit their own agenda. Oral, man-made, laws took over what YHWH commanded His people to do. This is a big reason why Yahshua and the religious leaders of His time would butt heads like they did. They didn’t like that Yahshua would come and call them out for their oral laws and would direct people to follow Him and obey YHWH’s commands.

Today, we are guilty of taking scriptures out of context (and are even taught by many of our Pastors and religious teachers to do the same). Some of this is unknowingly done, and other times, it is intentional so that we can justify our sin and fleshly desires. We say that Yahshua came and abolished the law so therefore we don’t have to obey His commands or listen to the Old Testament anymore. Where is that even said in the Bible? Many people will point to the teachings and words of Paul, but in fact, Paul NEVER once goes against anything Yahshua or the Old Testament taught.

He is almost always taken out of context because people don’t look at the entire context of his writings. People who do understand scriptural context often think that reading a scripture or two around the chosen verse is context enough, and sometimes that is true, but with Paul (especially) we often have to look at chapters within the verse chosen to truly understand the audience and historical context of the verses we often misinterpret.

For more on this topic you can watch 119 Ministries video series The Pauline Paradox. It is very insightful on Paul’s teachings and can show how we often misunderstand scripture and make it say something that it is not saying.

Once we understand the Bible and see that the entire Word of YHWH is still alive and applicable to our lives today it is like a veil is lifted from our eyes. The words in the Holy Book, we once read and skimmed over, all of a sudden stick out to us and next thing you know you can’t stop reading. You want more. You need more! You can be reading the New Testament and a half hour later you find yourself underlining verses in Deuteronomy because they all go together! The Old and New Testament work hand-in-hand.

It is through Yahshua, and the gift of His Set-Apart Holy Spirit (John 14), that I believe the Bible comes alive more then ever before. We are in a time where YHWH wants to reveal His Truth to us in a way like never before. He is preparing our hearts and our minds with the world events around us so that we are more open and willing to seek His full Truth. We are hungry for truth and freedom and it is in YHWH’s Word in which we will find it.

So turn off the TV. Put down your smart phone (once you finish this blog, of course - haha!) and open up your Bible. Start at the beginning if you need to. Go to Exodus 20 and read the 10 Commandments. Read the gospel of Luke and see the life of our Savior, Yahshua, and then continue on reading about the early Church in the book of Acts. Read the Bible everyday and pray that YHWH will open up your mind and your hearts so you will see and understand that His entire Word is alive and applies to you personally, today!

Obeying Yahshua’s commands is how we show that we love Him. Seek out His commands. Search how He lived and walked during His time on earth. When we do this with an open and willing heart, we will be one step closer to Walking in Step with the Spirit.

Be Blessed. Seek YHWH. Share the truth.

Lots of love,

Ashley Austin

@notmessmama