Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, July 28, 2022
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Is God opposed to pleasure? (Part 3)
Yesterday I promised you an analysis of joy. Joy is a promised fruit of the Spirit, However; it has many counterfeits. Happiness loves to masquerade as joy. Happiness is the result of external stimulus. Joy is internally generated. Something or someone makes you happy. Joy is not subject to external circumstances. For example, Yeshua was on His way to the cross when this was said about Him….
Hebrews 12:2b …For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross….
Who had/has the fruit of the Spirit more than Yeshua? Yet the Bible describes Him as a man of sorrows. Isaiah 53:3a He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Yeshua’s joy was not affected by sorrow and grief. Sometimes (actually quite often) I like to analyze something by examining its opposite. One such antonym of joy is “heartbreak.” When the Scriptures tell us not to lose heart, it is telling us to hold onto joy.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our trouble, light and momentary, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison….
We must press on, beyond the external forces of happiness (and also sadness) to the internal and eternal forces that produce joy.
2 Corinthians 4:18 …as we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
There are things happening in the world that should be disturbing and troubling to our Spirits. Our challenge is to maintain the mind of Messiah through every form of trial. We must never forget…
1 John 4:4 You are from God, children, and you have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
The promise in Scripture is there will be difficult times accompanied by a great “falling away.” 2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days hard times will come. Ask yourself, “Why is this warning in the Bible?” Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil heart of unbelief that falls away from the living God.
The enemy of God wants to steal your joy. 1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour. But we must be vigilant… Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice!
Let’s agree with the psalmist and decide now, we will hold on to joy and never be shaken. Psalm 30:6b Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. 7 When I felt secure, I said: “I will never be shaken.” Joy is part of God’s plan for your life. As we walk with God, He promises a gift… John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.
Receive it and believe it, in Yeshua’s name. Amen.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 28-Jul-2022 29th of Tamuz, 5782
Nu 33:50-34:15 Eze 27 1 Ch 1 (Lk 22:1-38) 1 Th 2
Week 31
Memory Verse: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
151 7/25 Monday: Luke 1
152 7/26 Tuesday: Luke 2
153 7/27 Wednesday: Matthew 1-2
154 7/28 Thursday: Mark 1
155 7/29 Friday: John 1