I think we all understand what this title means, so why am I talking about it in a message regarding our relationship with God?
Maybe it’s because so many people misplace the credit they give?
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I have been to many different houses of worship, both Jewish and Christian, as well as the “in-betweens”, i.e., Messianic Jewish synagogues and Hebraic Roots churches. And what I have found in too many of them is that they continually praise Yeshua (Jesus) for the wonderful blessings they have received.
Now, there’s no question that Yeshua deserves consideration when it comes to salvation; after all, if it wasn’t for his sacrifice, we would all be in deep trouble. With the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, which is the only place God says we can bring our sacrifices, without Yeshua’s sacrifice (which replaced the need to bring an animal to the temple) we would have no way to receive forgiveness. So, clearly, Yeshua is deserving and worthy of our thanks and yes, I suppose, praise, too.
But who did Yeshua say we should praise? And to whom did those who actually were there and saw the miracles Yeshua performed give praise to?
I can tell you that the Gospels tell us who that was, and (get ready for it) …it wasn’t Yeshua.
Let’s look at Matthew 5:16 (CJB), which is just after Yeshua was talking about people being a light to the world:
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
And later, in Matthew 9:8 (CJB), when he was healing people left and right, and the crowds were amazed, this is what happened:
When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and said a b’rakhah to God the Giver of such authority to human beings.
And these are not just one or two lines taken out of context, but verified by the other Gospels as showing that the people knew who to give the proper credit to- God, the Father, who empowered Yeshua.
Yes, thanks to Yeshua we can receive salvation, but it doesn’t come from Yeshua- he is the means to salvation, not the source. God, and God, alone, is our salvation. God is the one who forgives, God is the one who saves, and Yeshua is merely the instrument of God’s salvation.
And if you don’t want to believe me when I say this, then believe Yeshua, who never once took credit for any of the miracles he performed.
OK, maybe once, in Mark 1:41, when he said he was willing to make the man clean. He did, in a way, make it seem that he was the one doing the cleansing, but still he told the man to go to the Cohen as the Torah required.
Other than that one exception, Yeshua always gave credit to their trust and faith, and often thanked God for what he (Yeshua) was able to do (like when he praised God for allowing the people to see him raise Lazarus so they would know that was God behind it).
God is the one who dispenses blessings, God is the one who forgives sins; read Matthew 9:6, where Yeshua said he was given authority on earth to forgive sins: meaning only during his ministry.
And remember how Yeshua also said (Matthew 7:21) that many people who worship him and call him “Lord” will not be allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven, unless they do what his Father in heaven wants, meaning obeying the Torah.
Yeshua always gave credit for what he did to his father in heaven, and I am pretty sure that is what he tells us to do, as well.
So, the next time you give thanks for a blessing, or for your salvation, or for your health, or any, and every, thing you are thankful for, give the credit to the one who the credit is due- God, the Father.
Thank you for being here and please share these messages with everyone you know. Subscribe to my website and YouTube channel, buy and share my books, and join my Facebook group called “Just God’s Word” (but please make sure you agree to the rules or I can’t let you in).
And remember that I always welcome your comments.
That’s it for today, so l’hitraot and Baruch HaShem!
