Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Shalom,
Time out: I need to talk with you on a personal level for a moment. A week from today (November 1st) I’m going to have surgery in Raleigh, NC. An MRI revealed a cyst (about the size of a ping pong ball) on the outside of my right kidney. The plan is to remove it and part of my kidney. The procedure is called “NEPHRECTOMY PARTIAL LAPAROSCOPIC ROBOT ASSISTED,” and I’m thankful for your prayers.
Depending on my recovery, I may miss a few days of RRs. You can find the archive of about 2,000 previous RRs at www.syknox.org/blog. There may be an interruption of the RR distribution, but our devotional life goes on. Hopefully, we’ll be back in Knoxville in ten days or less. Thank you again for praying, and feel free to write to me, especially if I can’t write to you.
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Fields of wheat with Eitan Shishkoff and Joel Jelske will be online, Wednesday, October 25th, at 11am Eastern time. All are invited to connect for an update and prayer. Here is the Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88022872356 .
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God’s promise for Israel… please pray today. Psa 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness is body armor and shield. Psa 91:5 You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Psa 91:6 nor the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the scourge that lays waste at noon. Psa 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Psa 91:8 You will only look on with your eyes and see the wicked paid back. Lord, would You bring this to pass, speedily and in our days? In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Life In The Body part 23 – Romans, part 198
Romans 13:3 For leaders cause no fear for good behavior, but for bad. Now if you do not want to fear the authority, do what is good and you will get his approval— 4 for he is God’s servant to you for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid—for he does not carry the sword for no reason; for he is God’s servant, an avenger who inflicts punishment on the evildoer.
I want to focus on just one phrase today, “But if you do evil, be afraid.” Did Paul forget about grace? No! Paul is remembering that there are consequences for sin. Grace removes the eternal guilt consequences of sin, but not the immediate physical consequences.
Galatians 6:8 For the one who sows in the flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But the one who sows in the Ruach will reap from the Ruach eternal life.
Doing evil is sin. 1John 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness—indeed, sin is lawlessness. The one true and living God is righteous all together and sin cannot come into His presence.
Isaiah 59:2 Rather, your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. But God sent His Son to heal that separation. We must receive the gift of Yeshua’s sacrifice without doubting.
Jacob 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,… (ask in faith without doubt) 7 For that person (who doubts) must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.
Our initial comment said essentially, sin and fear. The “flip side” of that is “be righteous and stand in faith.” And what will those who believe with perfect faith receive? Heb 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Believe and walk in righteous obedience and receive your reward.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 25-Oct-2023 10th of Cheshvan, 5784
Ge 14:1-20 Jos 18 Ps 17 Mt 13:31–58 (1 Jn 3)