Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Tomorrow is September 11th. It has been 18 years since September 11, 2001, another day that will live in infamy. (Am I allowed to plagiarize FDR?)
Speaking of December 7th, there’s a funny family story connected to December 7th. One year my Dad called my uncle, Marty, on December 7th (the date Japan attacked our naval base to wish him a happy birthday. The problem was that his birthday was June 6th (D-day). My dad apologized and admitted he got the famous and infamous days mixed up.
Both the events of December 7, 1941 and those of September 11, 2001 launched us into war. Lord, we pray for the establishment of Your Kingdom in which there will be no war. That is the shalom we seek. Come Yeshua come.
Week 37
Memory Verse: Acts 1:31 When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. And they were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
181 9/9 Monday: Mark 16
* 182 9/10 Tuesday: Luke 14
183 9/11 Wednesday: John 20-21
184 9/12 Thursday: Matthew 28
185 9/13 Friday: Acts 1
Question of the day: How does Luke 14 illustrate the character of the kingdom of God?
Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Answer: The character of the kingdom of God is “Afuch.” Afuch is a Hebrew word that means “upside down.”
Rabbi Trail: I know I’ve taught you this before (I also told the story above on my father before). Now I’m writing this so you will know that I know. Why do I care if you know that I know? I don’t want you to think I’m senile. At least not for this. End RT.
The kingdom of God is counter-intuitive if it is anything. The world says you better look out for yourself (you know, take care of number one). God’s kingdom says put the benefit of others ahead of your own and watch how God, Himself, will honor you. Meditate on this. How can I prefer others above myself?