Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, January 16, 2020
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Don Finto (aka “Papa Don”) publishes a devotional once every few weeks through his ministry, Caleb Company, called “The Good Report.” Here is his latest submission. But before you read that, you might like to subscribe here… https://calebcompany.org/contact/ then go to the bottom of the page and subscribe.
A LIFE OF SERVING
by Don Finto | Jan 15, 2020 | The Good Report
Serving and Being Served
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Matthew 20:28
Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Biblical authority is from the bottom up, not from the top down. The one who leads is on the bottom serving those over him, not on top demanding that others serve him.
Jesus made this quite clear when He heard the disciples arguing about who was to be the greatest in His kingdom.
It seems that James and John were standing aside while their mother was asking the Lord that one of them should be “Prime Minister” and the other “Secretary of State” (“these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” – Matthew 20:21) in His kingdom.
Jesus caught on quickly and explained that they had missed the whole point of who is to be the greatest in His kingdom: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (vv. 25-28).
Yes, we have authority and we are to walk in that authority. But we are not to “exercise authority over” others. For example, Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands, but that word comes immediately following his admonition that husband and wife should submit to one another. Any time a husband says to his wife, “You are supposed to submit to me!” he has just moved away from the spirit of Jesus.
Jesus does not force us to submit, though He could do that, but He loves us into submission, voluntary submission, joyous submission.
Enjoy life! Walk as a servant to those around you.
Even if you are the “chief leader.” Emulate the Master.
And you will be continually filled with His joy.
Thank you Papa Don. This was excellent.
Week 3
Memory Verse: Romans 4:20 Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. 22 That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
11 1/13 Monday: Genesis 18-19
12 1/14 Tuesday: Genesis 20-21
13 1/15 Wednesday: Genesis 22
* 14 1/16 Thursday: Genesis 24
15 1/17 Friday: Genesis 25:19-34; 26
Question of the day: How did Eliezer know that Rebekah was God’s choice to marry Isaac?
Answer: He laid a specific fleece before the Lord.
Rabbi Trail: We call it a “fleece” anytime we ask the Lord to prove His choice. We ask the Lord for a sign. Gideon did this in Judges 6:36-40. Of course there is this warning… Yeshua is speaking in Matthew 16:4 “An evil and adulterous generation clamors for a sign, yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”
Some would say the “sign of Jonah” would be the resurrection as Jonah was in the whale, so shall the Son of Man be in the earth. The resurrection is a sign to a wicked and adulterous generation.
Others would say the “sign of Jonah” is the message of Jonah which turned Nineveh from practicing evil to repentance. In other words, don’t ask for a sign unless you are ready to repent. End RT.
Eliezer made a specific request of the Lord… Genesis 24:14a Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please tip your jar so that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink—and I’ll also water your camels’—let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac.
But Eliezer knew that one sign (witness) is not enough. Even after his request was exactly fulfilled… Genesis 24:21 while the man (Eliezer) continued to pay close attention to her, keeping silent in order to know whether or not Adonai had made his way successful. Only after he was invited to spend the night did he reveal his mission.
What’s the personal application? We should be quick to pray into every situation of life, seeking the will of God in everything. Challenge God to prove His perfect will. Never accept only one witness. And if you are wicked and perverse, stop it, or you will not get a sign other than the sign to repent.