Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Shalom
Note on Simchat Torah: Today is Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah). It is the day following Shemini Atzeret when we roll the Torah all the way back to Genesis 1. This coming Shabbat we being again “in the beginning.” It is a sign that we never finish learning from God. He gave us His Word as an instruction manual to every issue of life, physically, emotionally and spiritually. That’s something to celebrate every day. End Note.
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The Upper Room Discourse (part 54 of ???)
John 16:23 “In that day, you will ask Me nothing. Amen, amen I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24 Up to now, you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full.”
This is my third time in a row to write on these verses. “Whatever” is an inclusive term, until you add “in My name.” Then, all of a sudden, “whatever you ask” becomes limited to whatever you ask that is consistent with the character and desire of Yeshua’s reputation (His name is His reputation). So this the “new whatever.”
James 4:2b You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives so you may spend it on your passions.
These words are “sandwiched” between some pretty awful behavior descriptions. James 4:2a You crave and have not. You murder and you envy, yet you cannot get it. You fight and you wage war…. 4a You adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? People who behave this way and pray will not receive. I’m just making my point that there are limits on “whatever.”
This “new whatever” is a recognition, when we pray, that there is profound unity in the Father and Son. That unity is communicated through the Holy Spirit (who will guide you into all truth – a reference to John 16:13). This leads us to a sneak peek at John 17:1 Yeshua spoke these things; then, lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so the Son may glorify You.
The “Good News” is that God has welcomed us into His loving family. (We studied this verse previously also.) John 14:20 “In that day, you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.” May you be filled today with all the fruits of the Spirit, (lack for no good thing) and pray from that place of satisfaction and sufficiency. Pray for “whatever” in the unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace in Yeshua’s name and you will receive it. Amen.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 18-Oct-2022 23rd of Tishrei, 5783 Simchat Torah
De 33:8-34:12; Ge 1:1-2:3 Jos 1-2 Ps 1-2 Mt 1 (Jas 1)
Week 43
Memory Verse: Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 In it the righteousness of God is revealed, from trust to trust. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by emunah.”
211 10/17 Monday: 1 Corinthians 15-16
212 10/18 Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 1-2
213 10/19 Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3-4
214 10/20 Thursday: 2 Corinthians 5-6
215 10/21 Friday: 2 Corinthians 7-8