Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Shalom,
Victory Over Sin part 45 – Romans, part 106
Romans 8:28 Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
Rabbi Trail: It is near the July 4th weekend of 1980. How do I remember? My family and I had just moved to Northern Virginia a few months earlier (from Savannah, GA). My in-laws we driving up from central Florida to surprise us with a July 4th visit in our first year near the nations capital.
They stopped in Thomasville, GA to clean off some family cemetery plots when the heat overcame my mother-in-law, Lota Chambless, and she died of a heart attack at the age of 74. Now, instead of celebrating in Washington we were driving to Eustis, FL to attend her funeral.
I wasn’t yet a believer in Yeshua. It wasn’t even on my radar (or so I thought). Yet I wanted to say something relevant at her funeral, so I asked a preacher, who worked for me, if he could recommend a verse from the New Testament, since I didn’t know any. Yup, he recommended today’s subject verse, and I used it.
I didn’t even know John 3:16 until after I was saved which didn’t happen until more than two years later. I just wanted to tell you that story as I recalled my first experience with this verse. Do you ever remember the first time you related to particular verses? End RT.
We are nearing the end of three chapters (Romans 6, 7, & 8) which are a treatise on deliverance from sin. Here, at the end of chapter 8, Paul is writing on the benefits of living without sin. BTW – In the “big picture,” how fitting to have these 3 chapters lead up to the next 3 chapters which are a treatise on Messianic Judaism and what it means to have Israel and Gentiles united in faith through Yeshua. Being set free from sin leads to unity in the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you were called—…3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Ruach in the bond of shalom.
Let’s dive in to our subject verse… all things are not good, but many people believe this verse says they are. It doesn’t. Pollyanna maintains that all things are good, not God. Some things are just bad. This verse does say, ”All things ‘work together’ for good.”
This promise only applies specifically to certain people who have two qualities. They love God, and are called according to His purpose. When I say, “All things are not good,” I’m acknowledging that there is evil in the world. I’m also acknowledging that God is able to take even the worst of circumstances and use them for His glory. That is to say, He is able to take every situation and give it redemptive value.
The essence of the first coming is described here… Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds.
When Yeshua returns to the earth, will He find faith in you and me? Luke 18:7 “Won’t God do justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He be slow to help them? 8 I tell you, He will quickly give them justice. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” The question is left unanswered in Scripture. Let us answer the question today with a “yes” in our hearts to God and His purposes. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 14 June-2023 25th of Sivan, 5783
Nu 14:26-15:7 Jer 35 Dan 11:1-20 1 Co 16 (Lk 1:1-38)