Introduction
    In looking at creation we know that there is a Creator Who knew what He was doing. And we can trust what He tells us through His Word, that we will fully know then what we but partially know now. With this said, we should live a life that reflects not only this knowledge, but also the Spirit that has been given to us – motivated to serve Yahweh through His righteous Son Who set the example for us.

On Affections
    Recently, we had a Bible study on the subject of “Affections.” Our lesson proceeded from The New Topical Text Book, Torrey, R. A. (2001), touted to be “a Scriptural textbook for the use of ministers, teachers, and all Christian workers,” and offered instruction in prioritizing our affections.
   First and foremost, our affections should be set upon Yahweh, as it is written:
   One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Yahshua answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! YAHWEH OUR ELOHIM IS ONE; AND YOU SHALL LOVE YAHWEH YOUR ELOHIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH,’” Mark 12:28-30. (The New American Standard Bible used throughout, unless noted)
   Secondly, from Psalms 19:7-10, 119:20, 97, 103, and 167, we note our affections must be positioned upon His commandments. Let’s look at a couple of Scriptures regarding our love of the commandments of Yahweh:
   The precepts of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever, Psalm 19:8–9.
   O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97.
   Thirdly, we should love Yahweh’s House, and love to worship Him. We read in 1 Chronicles 29:3, that King David gave abundantly of his substance, both of gold and silver … “with all of his ability he provided,” besides other stores of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, onyx stones and glistering stones of diverse colors, and marble stones in abundance – all for the preparation of his son Solomon’s construction of the house of Yahweh – and it was his delight to do so. King David said in Psalm 26:8, O Yahweh, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your esteem dwells. And in Psalm 27:4, he expresses his desire to dwell there, in Yahweh’s house, all the days of his life … there, to behold the beauty of Yahweh, and to meditate and enquire. He’d rather spend a day in His courts as a doorkeeper, than a thousand elsewhere (Psa. 84:10).
   Fourthly, we should be kindly affectioned toward the people of Yahweh. Again, the Psalmist writes, As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all My delight, Psalm 16:3, (emphasis ours).
   The Apostle Paul wrote furthermore, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Master; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse, Romans 12:10–14, saying furthermore to the Assemblies at Corinth and Thessalonica,
   And I will very gladly spend, and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved … Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the evangel of Elohim but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 2 Corinthians 12:15, KJV, 1 Thessalonians 2:8. (Read also, 2 Corinthians 7:13-15.)
   For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous, 1 John 3:11-12.
   Do we even need to be reminded that no greater love had a Man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends? (John 15:13).
   The commandments of love, given by the Spirit, are purposed to moving us upward and toward Yahweh and our fellow man.
Lastly, we consider our love toward heavenly things.
   Therefore if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of Yahweh. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Messiah in Elohim. When Messiah, Who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of Elohim will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them, Colossians 3:1-7.
   … even when we were dead in our transgressions, [Yahweh] made us alive together with Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us with Him in the heavenly [places], in Messiah Yahshua, Ephesians 2:5-6.

Born of Yahweh
    It is what comes out of the abundance of the heart that defiles a person – things, like immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed. These things are opposite of what we’re called to be and do. Those who belong to Messiah Yahshua, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24), and put aside the old self with its evil practices, and put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other just as the Master forgave them (Col. 3:9, 12-13). These things bring glory to Yahweh, but cannot happen without a change in us, conforming us into His image, occurring first.
   If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of Elohim; and [such] we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of Elohim, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is… No one who is born of Elohim practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim. By this the children of Elohim and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of Elohim, nor the one who does not love his brother, 1 John 2:29-3:2, 9-10.
   Becoming born of Him is best defined Scripturally: Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Messiah was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with [Him] in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [in the likeness of His resurrection], knowing this, that our old self was impaled with [Him], in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin, Romans 6:4-7.
   There is a process occurring in being called out of darkness into light, in being passed from death to life. Here, is where many become confused. They don’t understand this process, this workmanship of Yahweh to create one in Messiah Yahshua and prepare him for doing good works (Eph. 2:10) – a workmanship that involves growing in grace and in knowledge, and accomplished by Body ministry.
   And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Messiah; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him who is the head, [even] Messiah, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love, Ephesians 4:11-16.
   It is not just apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but each of the members have gifts “the work of service” to help build up the body of Messiah. (See 1 Corinthians, chapter 12).
   This “building up” of the body of Messiah first required us to be born of Yahweh, “from above” – anothen (ἄνωθεν, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, G.509), “from above,” is used of place, (a) with the meaning “from the top,” Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38, of the temple veil; in John 19:23, of the garment of [Messiah], lit., “from the upper parts” (plural); (b) of things which come from heaven, or from [Yahweh] in Heaven, John 3:31; 19:11; Jas. 1:17; 3:15, 17. It is also used in the sense of “again,” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, (Vol. 2, p. 5), T. Nelson.
   How are we born “from above,” and why must we? It’s a question Nicodemus posed to, and which was answered by, Yahshua.
“… Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of Elohim.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is an old man? He is not able to enter into his mother’s womb for the second time and be born, can he?” Yahshua answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of Elohim. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘It is necessary for you to be born from above,’” John 3:3-7, The Lexham English Bible, TLEB.
   Being “born of water and of spirit” appears to be speaking of baptism into water and receiving a portion of Yahweh’s Spirit with the laying on of hands by the elders in Messiah. But the water is related to the flesh, and we know that flesh and blood cannot inherit the coming Kingdom of Yahweh, since that realm is spiritual (1 Cor. 15:50).
   Through Messiah’s blood, we have redemption and the forgiveness of our trespasses and in Him, we have obtained an inheritance … sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is given to us as a pledge of our inheritance until our full redemption as Yahweh’s purchased possession (Eph. 1:7, 11, 13, 14).
   The Apostle Paul, affirms that those who die in Messiah will be fully born of Yahweh in the first resurrection and at Yahshua’s return, those who are alive will also be changed in a twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15). Now, we, along with the rest of creation, await Yahshua’s return. In Acts, chapter 2, we read of the initial outpouring of Yahweh’s Spirit. And so, we eagerly wait … meanwhile, patiently and diligently enduring, persevering, and overcoming with vigilance until His return.
   For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of Elohim. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it, Romans 8:19–25.
   But this process toward Yahshua’s return, has already begun just like receiving a portion of Yahweh’s Spirit (even the calling by Yahweh, by the same Spirit) commences one’s being led by the Spirit to fully walk in the ordinances and commandments of Yahweh, as it is written:
   Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances, Ezekiel 36:26-27. (See also, Jeremiah 31:33.)

What's Next?
    And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] Elohim has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE [of you] with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, and [yet] DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity, Ephesians 4:23-27.
   Is that it? Not at all. We continue reading in the same passage, verses 28-32:
   He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have [something] to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment], so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of Elohim, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as Elohim in Messiah also has forgiven you.
   It’s a tall order, but in the next chapter, the list goes on. Ephesians 5:1-6, reads:
   Therefore be imitators of Elohim, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to Elohim as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and [there must be no] filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and Elohim. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of Elohim comes upon the sons of disobedience.
   We are further warned in Revelation, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and Elohim has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back [to her] double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, “I SIT [as] A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning,” For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for Yahweh Elohim Who judges her is strong, Revelation 18:4-8.
   Yahweh is merciful to those who are close to Him. But those who walk contrary to Him, will be punished.
   Nevertheless, all these things which we’ve been talking about, and need to walk in as new creatures in Messiah, won’t supply us with salvation. Yahshua saves us through His blood, and the Spirit of Yahweh helps us to grow so that our actions reflect the righteous character of both the Father and the Son. For He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Messiah Yahshua our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed Elohim will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men, Titus 3:5-8.
   Washing and renewing us from what? from this fallen world, unregenerate and dying in decay. The Spirit of Yahweh, however, gives life and helps us to walk in newness of life, no longer in spiritual decay. But if we don’t allow the Spirit, as a seed, to grow in us and help us, we will die spiritually.
   Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence, knowledge, and in [your] knowledge, self-control, and in [your] self-control, perseverance, and in [your] perseverance, piety, and in [your] reverence [for Yahweh], piety, brotherly kindness, and in [your] brotherly kindness, love. For if these [qualities] are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Yahshua Messiah. For he who lacks these [qualities] is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten [his] purification from his former sins … For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust, 2 Peter 1:5-9, 4.

Yahweh’s Will Within
    To reiterate what the Apostle Peter says, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Yahshua Messiah” (2 Pet. 1:8). His peer, the Apostle Paul, also encourages us, saying, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Master, knowing that your toil is not in vain [in] the Master, 1 Corinthians 15:58.
   Yahshua’s work, was to do the will of the Father, toward which our work should be… bringing honor and glory to the Father, our attitudes and our actions producing the good works of Yahweh. What Yahweh wants, is always the bottom line.
   The Son came, not to do His own will but that of His Father. The question is, “How are we relating to Yahweh’s will?” Maybe, we should reread the several Scripture references in this discourse.

Conclusion
    This writer was listening to soft music that accompanied a video presenting scenic views from around the world. The music, and the creation, were beautiful … but not more so, than the Creator. The Psalmist declared, One thing I have asked from Yahweh, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Yahweh and to meditate in His Temple. Psalm 27:4.
    For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen an Elohim besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him, Isaiah 64:4.
To think how we have been made partakers of His Spirit is awe-inspiring. To be born of Him, from Above, is something we just can’t describe at this time.
   All esteem and honor goes to Him, through Yahshua, His Messiah. His, is the first of our affections and foremost, a priority in our lives.