30 April 2010 (Sheshi/Kippur)
Day #46, 5934 AM
Crucified to the World
Embracing the Three Crosses
"Do not be deceived, Elohim is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Ruach (Spirit) will of the Ruach reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith....As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Messiah. For not even those who are circumcised keep the Torah (Law), but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But Elohim forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Master Yah'shua the Messiah, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Gal.6:7-10,12-14, NKJV).
Our passage under study today brings three different crucifixions to our attention. The first of these is the crucifixion Yah'shua our Messiah. His sacrificial death on the cross opened the door wide for our salvation. The second one is crucifixion of the world - its pleasures, honours, treasures and anything that hinders us from a complete salvation in Messiah must be rejected. In the third crucifixion it is we, as believers, who are crucified, which means that we are no longer responsive to the world's temptations. Its lures are dead to us and we can laugh at them as worthless trinkets.
In these three crucifixions the first cross speaks of the basis of our salvation, the second deals with the result of our salvation, and the third points to the living out of that salvation from day to day.
A woman once rushed up to violinist Fritz Kreisler after a concert and gushed: 'Oh, I would give my life to play as you do!' He answered soberly, 'That's exactly what I did.' Kreisler had made a great sacrifice of time, effort, and personal desires to attain the heights of such human accomplishments. If we wish to grow in Messiah Yah'shua, and become mature talmidim or disciples, overcoming the flesh and the temptations of the world, that is exactly what we have to do too...only we have to die to self.
What are your life's goal? Mine is providing the basic necessities of life for my family, and to share the salvation of Yah'shua the Messiah along the Torah of our Father Yahweh in the best way I know how - through writing, preaching and talking to people. Parallel with this is my desire to teach and encourage my children to do the same (once He has found them, and they Him), to find husbands and wives - their soul-mates - who want the same, and so to continue the witness. That is all I desire. The world, and everything in it, is passing away, and there is nothing in it that I desire.
Can we truthfully and enthusiastically say with Paul, "Elohim forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Master Yah'shua the Messiah, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world". When we can say that, we're making a sacrifice that will reap eternal rewards.
Acknowledgements
[1] Henry G. Bosch, Giving Your Life (Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI: 1999), April 20
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