This week I spent some time with Shayna Tilles, a fourth year at Athens Tech, and learned a little bit about her and her family. To give you some background, Shayna and her family are a part of the messianic Jewish community. In other words, they are Jewish people that believe Jesus is their savior. Many people believe that Judaism and Christianity are mutually exclusive. It is one or the other. This is not the case. From the early days of secular schooling we are taught that there are distinct and irrefutable differences between "Christians" and "Jewish people." The fact that the first "Christians" were Jewish and the fact that Jesus Himself was Jewish is overlooked more often than not. So to all of my fellow Christ followers (likely of gentile descent), do not consider it an impossibility for a Jewish person to believe in Jesus's messiahship as you do. Prior to the new covenant found in Jesus's blood, Jewish people were the ONLY people considered to be "God's people." It is because of Jesus that people like you and I can share in the freedom of His promises.
Growing up, Shayna's family gave her the choice to believe Jesus to be her savior; a choice we all have due to God's divine decision to give His world free will. Before her sophomore year, she saw Christianity as something that would be there for her only when she wanted or needed it. She struggled to fully grasp the fullness of God's love for us every moment of every day.
In the midst of the worldly sin she had come to know so well, she felt that there was something more for her. She began to choose Jesus and His freedom over the world and its sinful pleasures.
"As time goes on it becomes more real. I was constantly faced with a choice and the majority of the time I would choose the world. It was dark, but it was 'fun' and felt good and it was {easier} to choose the world. Now at times when I am confronted with a choice, I choose Jesus. It's way more fulfilling than taking the easy way out. Sure, there is an instant gratification that comes with worldly desires like, ya know, 'sex drugs and rock and roll', but you can't deny that there are some remorse and guilt linked to that even for the non-believer. It's so much better on the other side."
Galatians 5:22-23 but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.
Some might ask why, if God is a God of mercy and grace, does it matter how we choose to live while we are here on earth?
"Our life on earth is short. It is worth so much more to choose Jesus. It might be 'harder', but you're {literally} choosing life over death. I have been confronted with a lot of temptation in my life and fallen hard into that temptation... and had to deal with the consequences, but His grace trumps all of it. I have been given a lot of grace, but just because I have been given grace and been forgiven doesn't mean that I should run back to the worldly desires I had. I have felt the {weight} of those things before. It is hard to describe, but once you feel it (it being grace) it's hard to deny that feeling of freedom. The Lord has been so faithful to me in His grace and bringing me friendships and people that are encouraging and that love me more than I've ever felt loved. I've realized fruitful friendships and community are so important. They will be in my life forever."
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Jesus's request is fairly simple. Love God, love others, love ourselves and follow Him. Walk with Him. Shayna has experienced first hand that you cannot walk if you are in bondage to the chains of this world. If you (with trust in and reliance on the Lord's help) begin to rid yourself of these chains, then the ability to walk into His freedom will come. Temptation will never go away, but your ability to fight it will grow stronger.
1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
You are invited to freedom. You are invited into His promises. You are invited into an eternity with the Lord your God who loves YOU so dearly.
