Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, January 9, 2023
Shalom,
Rabbi Trail: Boker Tov! (“Good morning” in Hebrew) I’m writing this at 9am on Sunday morning in Israel. Jan and I will be back in Knoxville by this Wednesday evening. Our travel plans may cause an unavoidable interruption in the RRs later in the week. I’m sure you understand, thank you. End RT.
Spoiler Alert: You may want to read this privately before deciding whether to share it with children.
The Call To Righteousness
I woke up this morning with Romans 1 on my mind. Before I go on, this is the kind of thing that can put a person in the “cross-hairs” of the woke agenda. So, let me announce that I’m not the judge. Only the Holy Spirit brings conviction. However; I am using this RR to be a messenger, responsible to pass on the truth. If you are reading this (and you are), do with it as the Lord leads.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In unrighteousness they suppress the truth. What does it mean to “suppress the truth?” Several translations explain it as exchanging the truth for a lie. Most sinners are deceived. Deception can be described as mistakingly believing a lie to be the truth.
Romans 1 declares that pride in any form is against God. (Interesting the woke agenda focuses on pride.) Consider these excerpts from later in the chapter. Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the evil desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies with one another…. 26 For this reason God gave them up to shameful passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for what is against nature. 27 Likewise the men abandoned natural relations with women and were burning with passion toward one another—men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
This is written in the past tense. But God is not limited by time (He is omni-everything), so He is omnitemporal. God writes what was as a warning to future generations. Are we listening? If this isn’t specific enough, Paul explains further. Romans 1:28 And just as they did not see fit to recognize God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what is not fitting. 29 They became filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil. What follows is an even longer list of the sins and errors people make in their prideful ways against God.
Let me add to this, that none of us is exempt. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (There, but by the grace of God go I.) If you live long enough, you will make some mistakes. It’s if and when we make correction that will determine our eternal future.
God is calling us to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. 10a But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Immediately satisfying our earthly desires is eternally devastating. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote,
“Life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not its goal.
Dust thou art to dust returnest was not spoken of the soul.”
A Psalm of Life – verse 2
Come alive to God before it is too late. Please pray with me…. May the Lord bring conviction that causes grief at how we have separated ourselves from Him, speedily and soon. In Yeshua’s name. Amen. 2 Corinthians 7:10a For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 9-Jan-2023 16th of Tevet, 5783
Ex 1:18-2:10 2 Sa 21 Ps 94 Lk 13 (Gal 3)