During the past months, I wrote on a topic that sat heavily on my heart, about the need for us followers of Messiah Yeshua to remove the various “masks” in our lives. In the next few weeks we will take a small break from this series, as I feel it’s important to take time to not only reflect upon our own lives, but also to pray and intercede for those around us.

As you well know, we are before the very special season of the “High Holy Days” (or to put it more accurately, the Lord’s fall appointed times); Jewish people from around the world will celebrate the Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish “new year”), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).

It is indeed a very special season of reflection, repentance, and celebration. We reflect upon our lives, our relationship with our God, and with our neighbors. We repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord and from our brothers and sisters we have sinned against. We celebrate as we remember our great and awesome God, what He has done for us, and the great hope we have in Him for the future! It is a season that ought to bring a change in our lives as we rededicate ourselves to the Lord and to His calling on our lives.

In the next three weeks, I will write upon each one of these areas: reflection, repentance, and celebration. As I personally think on each of these areas, the first point that I would like to make is that we do not need these appointed times to remind us of the importance of reflection, repentance, and celebration! These ought to be part of a daily practice in our walk with our Lord. That, of course, should not diminish the importance of the times that the Lord has appointed for us to observe in community!

For followers of Messiah, reflection ought to be something that we do fully vulnerable before Him, without any masks. As we studied during the past weeks, God sees our hearts, and it is really our hearts that we need to reflect upon and ensure that they are a true reflection of Him; as His followers, we are to be as He is…salt and light:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

In the week to come, let us reflect on all areas of our lives, repent of any that are displeasing to Him, and choose to live a life worthy of His glory!

Let us also take time to intercede for Israel, that He will reveal the true image of His Son to them in this special season.

Shabbat Shalom and Shannah Tova VeMetoka!

Moran