Musing - Do we kick against the Goads?

 Hebraic Musing - Do we kick against the Goads?

Ever heard of someone being Goaded on?  I recently read the familiar description of Paul’s conversion in Acts.  We’ve all read it many times but this particular reading caused a single word to jump out at me.  We should never sit down with the Word of God without first asking the Holy Spirit to help understand and clearly see what Scripture is trying to say.  Sometimes I have to read a passage several times and patiently meditate on it for a time, sometimes days.  But the answer faithfully comes forth. 

In this instance, the word in Acts 9:4 of “Me” caught my attention.  This is also repeated in Acts 22:7 and Acts 26:14.   We all know that Saul of Tarsus was journeying to Damascus to persecute and imprison followers of Jesus, the Nazarenes whom he was convinced were blaspheming Jehovah and corrupting the Law of Moses.  Saul’s fervent and sincere passion to defend his God came from a deep love and commitment to the holiness of the Jewish faith and temple.  He thought he was doing the right thing!

Here is Saul plodding along a dusty road in broad daylight when a bright light suddenly hits him, blinding him, and a voice addresses him saying, “Saul, Saul!  Why are you persecuting Me?” Acts 9:4 NKJV   Jesus was speaking directly to him.  What struck me was that Jesus didn’t ask him, “Why are you persecuting my followers?” which is exactly what Saul was engaged in doing.  Rather, Christ took the persecution personally.  Why?  The answer forthcoming from the Holy Spirit was that Jesus was claiming all who believe upon Him as His own.  He possesses and claims personal ownership of us.  Scripture tells us frequently in Saul’s/Paul’s later letters that we are “in Christ” and Christ is “in us.”  Christ owns us -- every bit of us from the air we breathe to the cells in our body and the life force that inhabits them.  When we claim Him, He claims us.  Jesus once taught His disciples/us that whatever they would to the “the least” of them… “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did unto Me.” Matthew 25:40.  So, Jesus took it very personal!

We are adopted.  We are part of His family, with the same Father.  Christ shares an allegiance with us that is sealed in covenant and cannot be broken.  Hence, he takes the persecution of His followers as an attack upon Himself.

There is one more part of this Scripture in Acts that is often sidestepped -- Jesus’ comment about it being “hard to kick against the goads.”  In Acts 9:5 “Then the Lord said, ’I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’”NKJV  A goad is a sharp, pointed prod used to steer and motivate cattle and sheep along, giving rise to our expression of “goading someone into it.”  Jesus was saying to Saul that when you resist the Lord’s prompting and interfere with His plan and efforts, you will find it difficult.  Saul, sitting there, blinded, had just gotten a taste of what happens when one “kicks against the goads.”

Do we “kick against the goads” that God has placed in some of our experiences?  Have we discovered that it’s just easier to trust Him and let His promptings unfold in His way and His time in our lives?  Paul found out that it was just easier to trust and go along with God’s directions through the Holy Spirit’s quiet guidance than to try to create his own path and run into difficulties and resistance.  To be sure, Saul ran into many obstacles and problems in his ministry, but those were the enemy’s doing, not God’s.  The Lord’s power guided Saul through all of them and at the same time allowed him to preach the Gospel to all he encountered, including his enemies, fulfilling his divine purpose.

How many “goads” are we kicking against in our daily walk?

Points to ponder

When we kick against the goads, do we recognize the goads are there for our benefit?

Who is goading us into stubbornness, laziness, non-compliance, etc.?  

How are we goaded by His Holy Spirit?

♫  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                            May 19, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – How to distinguish between Critical and Arguable ‘Truths’?

 Hebraic Musing – How to distinguish between Critical and Arguable ‘Truths’?

Christianity has certain foundational doctrines to determine if a person, church, denomination is truly Christian.  I propose that the only critical doctrinal belief issues are – (1) Full deity and humanity of Jesus; (2) Authority of Scripture; (3) Justification by Faith; (4) Triune nature of Our God; and (5) Birth, Death, bodily Resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  Folks may disagree with some of these, but I hold these as non-arguable, foundational truths.  They represent the undeniable, unarguable, defining distinctives of Christianity.

However, Denominations, Pastors and even some Churches hold some other distinctive beliefs or tenets that are defended, debated, argued and become strongly held beliefs.  These beliefs become known as Denominational Distinctives; and they become cause for division in fellowship among Christians.  But should they?  “But God has combined the members of the body … so that there should be no division in the body….” 1 Corinth. 12:24-26 NIV

Denominations have been known to differ on issues of Beliefs, Practices, Social issues, Ethical issues, Theology and Worship Styles.  Here is just a sample of Denominational Distinctives.  Are any of these worth losing fellowship over?

·         Baptism as infant or adult

·         Baptism by sprinkling or immersion

·         Ordinations of Women pastors

·         Confession to Priests as intercessors

·         Significance of Mother Mary

·         Infallibility--of Pope or Denomination

·         Teachings of a Mega-Church pastor

·         Torah as Law or guide or irrelevant

·         Sabbath or Sunday worship

·         Pre or Mid or Post or Pan-Trib

·         Salvation – Secure or worked out

·         Which Bible version is Authorized

·         Role of the Holy Spirit (or Ghost)

·         Nature and role of Angels

·         Views toward other denominations

·         Alcohol consumption

·         Rules for Communion

·         And on and on the list goes….

I repeat the question - Are any of these worth breaking fellowship over?  I am not trying to diminish the importance each of the above issues, but maybe we should spend more time understanding where our Brothers in Christ are coming from.  Being multi-denominational myself, it has been an adventure!  If you disagree with someone, can you state their position and reasoning?  That is only being fair.

At my Father’s funeral, I became the patriarch of the family.  My siblings, seven of them, represent a variety of denominations and sought me out for understanding.  While flying home at 35,000 feet, I thanked the Lord for all the different denominational ways He gave me to bless Him.  Then the Lord spoke to me almost audibly – “Joe, those are all the ways I have to bless you.” 

My son has suggested that each denomination reflects the different characteristics and nature of Our Almighty God.  So, in a multi-denominational Bible study we had each person share their denominational background – and we identified the strength, blessing and Godly nature of each their denominations.  How uplifting it was to experience God’s perspective!

Points to Ponder

Can we have Christian Unity while discussing non-critical, non-salvific differences?

BTW - If you do find the perfect church, it will no longer be perfect when you join!

Do any Denominations or Churches live in ‘glass houses’? 
Besides ‘Crystal Cathedral’    :<)

I really would like to hear your opinion on these points!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         May 12, 2026   (First published February 18, 2014) 

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”     www.InsightsByYosef.com

 

Musing – Do we still have Pharisees in Our Churches?

Hebraic Musing – Do we still have Pharisees in Our Churches?

Are there Pharisees in our Churches?  How would we know?  Or, how would we know if we are one of them?  To stir our thinking – would we have also become frustrated with Jesus when we saw Him hanging out with hookers, criminals and other morally sketchy people?  I would probably have questioned him as well; which puts me in the company of the Pharisees.  How about you?  (BTW – The Sadducees were even more self-centered!  That is why they are sad, you see.)

I’ve come to realize that maybe I am one of the chief Pharisees?  Here are some signs I have to watch for –

I like to show off; whether it’s the number of FB friends, the car, the fashions, musical or other skills, etc.  Do we find ourselves in church drawing focus on ourselves instead of serving God and His people?

I tend to think my theology is better than theirs.  We know we are right and they are wrong.  When we contend we are less sinful, or got it more together, or smarter and wiser than the other guy or his church, then we might have become a Pharisee!  Remember, the Pharisees insisted they were right.

My love of money and the control of “My Money” messes with my priorities. How?  Have you ever found yourself excited about what the money is doing for you, and lost sight of what it could be doing for one of God’s mission efforts?   If so, we’ve crossed a line.  Whoops, I forget who the money really belongs to!

I have too little compassion, while forgetting that Yeshua’s act of compassion is why I am a Christian. Jesus was frequently moved with compassion, and he rebuked the Pharisees for their lack of it.  Matt 9:11-13 starts with “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?..."   All too often I find myself listening to the popular radio station WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) instead of caring for others.  I once defined “others” as the 7 billion people in the world; and my pastor publically corrected me by saying – “No Joe, “others” is 7 billion minus one.”

I expect others to do what I don’t always do?    Do I practice what I preach?  Do I “Walk the Talk”?  And not just at church but at home also?!?!  And as we teach, directly and indirectly, I have to remember that those who teach are held to a higher standard; so I have to teach with fear, trembling and humility.

I think of myself as closer to God than those around me.  In Matt 23:15 Jesus admonishes the Pharisees – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” NIV
And then I remember Prov. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”   Ouch!

I become jealous of others in the church and other churches.  When ministries of others are more effective, I feel a spirit of jealousy creeping in; when I know I should be publicly praising them and celebrating with them.  John the Baptist understood this challenge when he admitted “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30-31 NKJV   What John did was to say it out loud.  He gave public recognition and praise to Jesus.

While all this is said in first person, it is my hope and belief we can all work to recognize the pharisaical tendencies that creep into our thinking and hinder our witness.

Points to ponder

Interesting Bible study topic – “Jesus and the Pharisees” (Notes available)

Do we listen to WIIFM too often?

How does Pharisaical thinking diminish our effectiveness as witnesses for Jesus Christ?

"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”  Luke 12:1

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   May 5, 2026 (First published March 14, 2017)

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note – Inspired by Carey Nieuwhof, ChurchLeaders.com, 7 Signs the Pharisees Are Running Your Church. Feb. 2015 

Mushing – Should we go “Beyond the Written Rule”?

 Hebraic Mushing – Should we go “Beyond the Written Rule”?

My aviation friend* shared “In an intense dream this week, repeating a similar one a week earlier, I revisited a five-year trial that resolved in our favor six years ago.  I woke pondering a comment from a former regulatory overseer who lamented that the FAA had shifted from prioritizing safety to box-checking to achieve a “Gotcha.”  This was a startling admission, though to me an unsurprising conclusion.” 

How might that apply to our journey with Jesus?

Jesus dealt with the best of the best of box-checkers.  He confronted the Pharisees, calling out their willingness to “strain out a gnat and swallow a camel” Matthew 23:24 NIV.  Jesus obliterated their stronghold of prideful comparisons in Luke 18:9-14 “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The Pharisees are easy targets for us, yet our judgment of them is sometimes Pharisaical itself. How easy it is to fall into the trap of “at least I am not one of them.”

In his aviation career (or in any career), we were careful to comply with the regulations and our approved programs.  Of course, we wanted to avoid a “Gotcha,” but more importantly, we were committed to safety.  We were further committed to respecting our authorities and held our relationship with them as a core value.

Whether an air operator or a regulator overseeing one, or a believer trying to please God, the box-checking trap is set with deadly consequences.  The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6 NIV.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom  2 Cor 3:17 NIV.   Through Christ Jesus, we move beyond the written rule into the realm of the Spirit, who gives life and freedom. Amen!

Jesus warned us. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24   And there are more than 20 more references telling us to – work at it with all your heart for the Lord, not for men,”  

 Point to ponder

In how many ways are do we become “box-checkers” in our service to the LORD?

Do we worship the Lord with known prayers, or with our hearts?

Has going to church become a routine?

Do we love our neighbor because we were told to? 

Who is your neighbor?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colosians:3:23

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                        April 28, 2026
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* – Inspired by Mark Sterns’ “Tues w/ Papa_50 Beyond the Written Rule”

Musing – What is your “Game Plan for Life”?

 

Hebraic Musing – What is your “Game Plan for Life”?

Joe Gibbs, a very well-known football coach as-well-as owner of a highly successful race car team, shares his “Game Plan for Life”.  And his message appeals especially to our competitive nature as men!

He explains the typical man’s erroneous thinking by using many testimonies that men relate to; and then he provides fresh insights into overcoming uncertainties of life.  Powerful preaching messages make their point with the testimonies of notable people and many memorable lines; and these messages are from notable known people that men relate to.  He references the Bible with obtuse passages that men find to be messages that become real and believable and alive.

His book progresses through attributes that result in success in life, but it builds on the way our focus on God should be the ultimate goal for success.    His focus is on those of us who are living Life without a Playbook.   Each of these 15 chapters contains a message of its own –

- No Game Plan, No Victory – If it takes a Game Plan to win at football, might we also need one for our life?
- My own journey – Understand human nature.  What’s your testimony?  Are you serving God or yourself?
- The Ultimate Playbook – Obviously that’s the Bible.
- God as our coach – Are we willing to let Him be our coach?
- Creation /beginnings – How did life begin?  A choice between Science and God.
- Sin & addictions – How willing are we to cast off the works of the flesh?
- Salvation – When did you get on to God’s winning team?
- Relationships – Dealing with Marriage & sex, rules, reproduction, and oneness.
- Finances – The Bible talks about this over 2,000 times!  Know that God owns it all.
- Vocation – Who are we and why are we here?  Are you becoming what God wants you to be?
- True health – God’s plan for your health is Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritually Relational.
- Purpose of life – How are we to get the most out of life?  Be aligned with God’s purpose.
- Heaven – Is heaven more than strumming on a harp?  Is your name on the list?
- Dealing with loss – Where is God in all this?  Is He still in control?
- The Battle is still on – We are all still a work in progress.  

Each one of those chapters is salted with testimonies and memorable, challenging preaching.  Might this outline help develop Your Personal Playbook for Success?

I confess that I could not put the book down; each chapter was a fresh testimony and topic that I could not help but relate to.  The book is delightfully testimonial and appealing to men and our God-given competitive nature and classic struggles in life.

Points to Ponder

I am still pondering points he made in each of the 15 chapters!

We men worry & fuss about many things, but only one matters – where will we spend eternity?

What is your Game Plan for Life?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Col. 3:23

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         April 21, 2026            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Joe Gibbs book “Game Plan for Life”  2021  Amazon $16.97
           Joe is a 3-time Super Bowl Champion coach and led a 5-time NASCAR Championship team.

Musing - What is the ultimate purpose of Life?

 Hebraic Musing - What is the ultimate purpose of Life?

Or, maybe the title should be “Donate your life” as suggested in Leviticus 16:8-10?!?!   We are all familiar with the ‘scapegoat’ story and typically consider the scapegoat to be the lucky one who is allowed to live.  As the one-armed Rabbi used to say, “On the other hand”.  Let’s look at Leviticus 16:8-10 from a different perspective.  “He is to cast lots for the two goats — one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.  Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering.  But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.” NIV

This sacrificial process was central to the Yom Kippur service and message.  Drawing ‘lots’ determines the fate of two identical goats.  One of the two goats becomes an offering to the Lord.  The other would symbolically be given the sins of Israel and sent off into the wilderness where it would obviously die later.  Which one was the ‘lucky’ one?  What can we learn from this?  How is it relevant to us today?  Are there two different ways of living, and dying? 

We will all die at an unknown time someday.  In the meantime, we get to decide how we live.  The goat that is sacrificed to the Lord represents a life lived in service to God, full of purpose and meaning.  The ‘scape goat’ represents a person who wanders about aimlessly in this world without any clear sense of purpose, contribution or meaning.  Both goats die in the end, but only one lived a worthy life.  The first goat’s life is deemed worthy because his life was an offering to the Lord; and the second goat lived with sin all the while he wandered in the desert for the rest of his days.

God has given us life, and all the blessings associated with our ability to do things here on earth.  The first goat, the one offered to God, reminds us of our challenge as believers to die to ourselves and thus live our lives as a living sacrifice.  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  Rom. 12:1 NKJV   

In summary – We need to be giving our lives in service to God, dying to self, so that others may live.  Unsaved, unredeemed or selfish folks have selected the option to live their lives as the scapegoat – wandering around in a spiritual desert, still living in the sins of the world and finally dying without having served God.

What does the NT say about this topic?  “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  Romans 14:8 NIV   And as Paul said in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Points to ponder

How can we be a living sacrifice to God now?  

What is your purpose for living? 
                       Are we still living for ourselves?

Have we died to ourselves,
                                  so we can live for others?

L’Chaim (to Life)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                               
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Originally Self Published by Yosef Brusherd and Kurt S Johnson, September 2014 – p.52
“Musings – Volume 1, God’s Original Plan for A Victorious Life”

Musing – Are we Contributing Donations or making Sacrifices?

 Hebraic Musing – Are we Contributing Donations or making Sacrifices?

Just heard my Christian friend describing his thought process when a member of his church had a need.  He was willing to kick in $20, or maybe even moved to give $100, but he wasn’t sure if he’d be willing to give $500.  As we processed similar challenges we all have faced, we realized there are many cases where we are more than willing to give various amounts -- up to a “breakpoint” where we are no longer comfortable with giving that amount or more.  When we reach our “breakpoint” we get to thinking about the amount in our wallet, or the car payment that is due, or the groceries we need, or the family budget, or … etc., etc.

We are okay with “Contributing” or “Donating” or “Gifting” up to a certain “breakpoint” where we are no longer comfortable.

Let’s look at the decision the “Father of our Faith” had to make when asked to give.  “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you ‘love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’” Genesis 22:1-2 NIV   BTW, this is the first mention of “sacrifice” in the Bible and first mentions are often defining situations.  What can we learn from the decision Abraham was confronted with?

Then we opened our Bibles to the Widow’s offering in the NT.  “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  Luke 21?1-3 NIV

It might be hard to admit that much of our “giving” is from our wealth, easily affordable, done routinely or already planned.  What kind of “giving” was Jesus recognizing as true “giving” in the previous examples? 

Is there a difference between different kinds of “givings”?  What’s the difference between “Donations” and “Giftings” we tend to do routinely versus “Sacrificial Giving”?

Donations are the act or an instance of donating: such as the making of a Gift especially to a charity or public institution.  (And a Gift is simply sharing something we have that the recipient does not have.)

Sacrificial giving involves giving beyond what is convenient or expected, often requiring personal sacrifice of time, money, or resources, motivated by love for God and others.  It is not merely about the amount given, but the heart and attitude behind the gift, reflecting obedience, trust, and commitment.  In the Bible, sacrificial giving is exemplified by Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac, demonstrating faith and trust in God’s provision.

There is a way to find out whether our donations (or gift or contribution or weekly offerings) are sacrificial.  We need to examine how we feel about incrementally increasing the amount we are comfortable giving until we reach the uncomfortable “Breakpoint” amount!

Points to Ponder

Might our gift or donation fall short of resolving the need? 

Was it the gifts from their wealth or the 2 mites from the widow that got Jesus’ attention?

How much do you love your neighbor or a friend in need?

Who do we trust for restoration if we give Sacrificially?

Was Jesus’ death on the cross a donation or a sacrifice?
Does our service to His Kingdom require Sacrifices?

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21 NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         April 7, 2026            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”