Middot U'Mitzvot: Character Qualities and Commandments
A Servant's Heart


G-d's Torah is the best source of instruction
in character qualities and holy living


A Servant's Heart - Serving the L-RD

"Love the L-RD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

In this week’s Torah portion (Genesis 24) we get to meet Rebekah for the first time. Rebekah is the woman who became Isaac’s – Abraham’s son’s – wife. One of Rebekah’s character qualities that made her stand out was her willingness to serve. When Abraham’s servant asked Rebekah for a drink of water, she not only gave him water to drink but drew water for all of his camels as well – and camels drink a lot of water! So, how about us? Do we have a servant’s heart like Rebekah? Would we have drawn water for all of those camels? And, are we willing to go the extra mile for Yeshua even if it’s hard work? Before you answer these questions – think about all that Yeshua has done for you. Think about how much Yeshua loves you…. Now, go out, be like Rebekah, and serve Him with all of your heart!

Purpose in the Lord - United Effort

“So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Do you ever feel like – try as you might – you’re not getting anywhere? That everything you do seems to be pointless or meaningless? Well, guess what? That’s simply not true! Rav Sha’ul, the Apostle Paul, tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians that if we stand steadfast – that if we do not give up or back down – and if we give, and do, our best, then God will use our efforts to further His Kingdom. You see, it’s true that we cannot do anything on our own. Have you ever heard the phrase “united we stand, divided we fall”? Well, if we try to accomplish something outside of God’s will, or without Him being a part of what we are trying to do, we will fail every time. But, if we seek God, and if we include Him in our efforts, He will work with, and through, us to accomplish great and mighty things. Without God we will fall, but united with God we will stand. Working by ourselves we will fail and become discouraged, but working with God we will have purpose and success!

Commitment - Giving Your All

"Whoever finds his own life will lose it, but he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39

When was the last time you participated in something that left you exhausted because you had given everything you had to do your best and come out on top? Perhaps it was a sporting event or a project for school? Maybe it was the championship game or try-outs for the lead role in the school play? But, what about putting that energy and commitment into your relationship with God? When was the last time you gave your all for Him? You see, God isn’t interested in just being a part of our lives – He wants to be in the center of it. He doesn’t want just a piece of our hearts – He wants all of it. Nothing is more important than the life you live for God – not even the championship game. So, how are you going to give your all for God? After all, didn’t Yeshua give us His all when He came and died so we might live? So, go and live for God!

Selflessness - God's Will Be Done

“And He…fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’” Matthew 26:39

When was the last time you gave up doing something that you really wanted to do so someone else could do what they wanted to do? Or, have you ever had something all planned out and then, all of a sudden, you are forced to make a change in those plans? Giving up our wants and desires for someone else isn’t easy, but it is part of being a follower of Yeshua. Do you think that Yeshua wanted to be beaten and spit on? Do you think that He wanted to be nailed to the execution stake and die for us? Probably not, right? But, He went through it because His Father asked Him to. Because Yeshua loved His Father, and us, He gave up His will for the Father’s. When we are faced with situations and decisions in this life that ask or force us to choose between ourselves and others, how will we choose? Will we choose our way, or will we be selfless, like Yeshua, and follow the will of God giving life and hope to others?

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