True or False? — Once baptized and you accept Yeshua as your Savior, you are all set.
I once overheard a black belt in karate practice, telling a newcomer; “when you earn a black belt, nobody can take it away.” I paused and thought, "But what if a black belt stops training?" It is like how a new car will not run properly if it stays idle in the garage for a long period. It's like how a freshly baked donut will quickly go stale sitting on a counter. An unkept garden will become an encyclopedia of weeds. I could go on- but what do these analogies have to do with my walk in Messianic Judaism? A lot.
This summer marks the first anniversary since my husband and I joined the Beth Machaseh Messianic Congregation in Williamstown, NJ. It has been an eye-opening, joyful, and humbling experience on many levels. I would like to share some of the many lessons I’ve been learning.
Torah Portion: Daily Bible Reading is Essential
Deuteronomy 11:19 "You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you arise."
I didn’t know about the Torah portion-how amazing that the same 54 Parshas are each read weekly by believers all over the world! After the last Parsha in Deuteronomy, the cycle repeats again from Genesis. I liken the Torah reading cycle to the galaxy. Just as a galaxy contains billions of stars and solar systems, the Torah contains Words with infinite layers of truth. Studying the Bible from a Messianic perspective is like seeing the sky through a telescope. An inquiry of a single word leads to discoveries and more inquiries. It led me to the joy of studying the Torah with Hebrew meanings. My studying of the Bible brought a deeper appreciation of the link between the Old and the New Testaments. The Bible confirms that everything in this world functions under G-d’s law (the Bible backs science) because He created everything!
Siddur: Pray Because HaShem is Listening
Deuteronomy 11:18 "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, …"
G-d commands us to put Him first in everything. But where to begin and what practice to apply in my daily life? While it’s easier to pray in gratitude when life is comfortable, the real test of faith is when things get tough. What can I do to practice obeying His mitzvah under any circumstance? How can I remind myself that I am where G-d designed me to be during times of testing and be in peace?
The good news is that the Jewish Siddurs offer beautiful ways to energize our faith. Some liturgy is recited to musical tunes that make them easier to memorize. What I did not know was that there were Brachot (prayers of blessings) for everything: from when you wake up, to before going to bed, before drinking wine, before eating bread, before wearing tzitzit (for men), and many more. HaShem wants us to not take anything for granted and to stay in gratitude.
HaShem is an ever attentive and merciful Father. Sometimes His response comes suddenly! I am a Messianic newbie and still have much to learn, yet HaShem has already shown me that He is always listening.
On one hot summer day, I prayed before mowing the lawn. Then I started my yardwork, reciting a Bracha called "Mah Tovu." Though I fumbled some words again and again for the 5+ hours of mowing and weeding. Afterward, I thanked G-d for allowing me to finish without being dead in the middle of the yard. Suddenly my phone started playing the beautiful song “Kadosh.” How can this be? I knew my phone was locked. It was not even in my hand, no Siri, and no apps were open when this happened. My only thought was Barouch HaShem! G-d knows how to use the iPhone (of course)! There have been other small moments like this in my life which have caught my attention. Now I pray in gratitude in times of joy and in challenging times. Because I know that HaShem is always at work, listening to us.
Sabbath Services: Worship is All About G-d
1 Corinthians 14:26 — "When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."
At BMMC, I’ve witnessed true worship just as described in 1 Corinthians 14:26. Here, everyone engages in the service. There is a Senior leader who opens the Sabbath service with a prayer, a talented team for the musical worship, sisters and brothers who lead special prayers, a Torah procession (I love dancing!), members assigned to read Torah portions, a Rabbi to deliver the message of Words, and men blessing the children. Rabbi even invites comments and questions during his sermon. It’s not about showing off; it’s all about praising G-d and giving gratitude for all His blessings. The more of us unite in service, the smaller we will be and G-d’s presence is magnified. Sabbath at BMMC truly is a "Hallelujah" experience of rejoicing.
In conclusion, let’s come back to my opening question. Once a person is baptized and accepts Yeshua as their salvation, are they all set? My husband and I were baptized on the 12th of Nisan this year. We know we’re not "all set" and have much work to do. Our time in this world is a training ground to prepare us for what’s to come. Just as merciful HaShem clothed Adam and Eve before evicting them from Eden, He has given us the Torah—the true textbook on how to train in this world. Accepting Yeshua is just a starting point of our walk in faith. How we study the Bible and apply its teaching is the real assignment each of us carries. May our walk in Messianic Judaism be a living sign of Messiah in the world. Amen.
Hannah Ueno
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