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Then Miryam said, "My soul magnifies ADONAI; and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, who has taken notice of his servant-girl in her humble position. For -- imagine it! -- from now on, all generations will call me blessed! "The Mighty One has done great things for me! Indeed, his name is holy; and in every generation he has hesed on those who fear him. - Luke 1:46-50 (CJB)

“Mom, don’t get upset with me...but I was wondering how do we really know if Christianity is the right religion?” That was the question my 10 year old son Caleb had recently posed to me...with great hesitancy, mind you. I remember wondering the same things and feeling badly about thinking such! I tried to comfort him by assuring him that at one point or another, we all ask such questions. I expressed to Caleb that the One True God Who loved him without condition and without end also welcomed his questions. That’s Who He is, right? He is Love Without Condition and abundant in hesed (steadfast and loyal covenant-love) and emet (truth)! Hesed is that unchanging love that envelopes and permeates His covenant. Hesed is one of the seven defining characteristics of God’s sacred Name (Exodus 34:6-7) - YHWH, a God abounding in hesed.

So, what does all this mean? My counsel to Caleb was that God IS Loving-kindness and Truth whether we acknowledge it or not. This is His Holy essence. Our questions have no power to change His Person. Along this line of reason, I have also been asking ‘if His unending LOVE is not changing you and me, is there any real evidence that He has been there at all or is still at work in our lives?’ ‘The Hasidic Mother of Yeshua’ was an article that has grabbed my attention in recent days having to do with just this: “In the Bible, the word hesed is also used as an adjectival noun: hasid — a loyal, devoted, committed, and loving person. To be hasidic is to be loyal in love and obedient to the will of God: as it’s spelled out in the covenant. God guards his oath. And he’s the one who determines who is truly hasidic. His word is the template by which any person is defined as hasidic.” It was in this Jewish woman’s home that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) The law of kindness (torat hesed) was on Mary’s lips and permeated her living. This covenant-love is what transforms lives, covers sins and welcomes sinners.

At this time of year, many of us might be thinking of showing kindness ‘in the spirit of Christmas’. The LORD has been penetrating my own heart as to what His covenant-love is - that extends year round - not showing up simply as Christian benevolence during the ‘holiday season’ and then disappearing. His hesed is abundant! His hesed does not quit when it is not returned! His hesed is practical, loyal, eternal, without end, impartial and surprising to all her recipients!

Father God, may Your torat chesed grow increasingly brighter in my life as do the lights of the menorah candles in this eight day Feast of Dedication. By your abounding grace, may I return to You the gift of kindness by showing it to all men - a gift that is well-pleasing to You. In this manner, may I truly be hasidic that all will know that Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life . In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Happy Channukah! Jesus proclaimed He was the Light of the world. Tonight at sundown marks the Jewish custom of Channukah which Christ celebrated. During these next eight days, perhaps we can examine the intensity of our own lights with a rededication to that Great Light! Merry Christmas!

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 29, 2010)