The Hasidic Christ-Follower

כי טוב חסדך מחיים שפתי ישבחונך׃

Psalm 63:3 in Hebrew Script

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 as a child the very same things and feeling guilty about having thought such.  I tried to comfort him by assuring him that at one point or another, we all ask those kind of 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, how is all of this supposed to play out in our day to day living? 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 presently conforming us to His blessed image, is there any real evidence that He is still at work in our lives?’ 

‘The Hasidic Mother of Yeshua’ was an article that 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 the Mashiach (Messiah) 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 in every aspect. (How would you like to have been Jesus' Momma?)  This Holy covenant-love is what transforms lives, covers sins and welcomes sinners.  Oh, how we need more of this in our homes, Moms.  At least, I do!

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!  His hesed loves people past their performances...

Imagine with me the law of kindness on our tongues at all times and all places...what a concept!  How about you, feelin' Hasidic?

Father God, may Your torat hesed grow increasingly brighter in the homes and lives of every eye reading this.  By your abounding grace, may we return to You this gift of kindness by showing it to all men...beginning in our own homes - a gift that is well-pleasing to You. In this manner, make us truly hasidic that all will know that Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life .  In Jesus’ Name, Amen