Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Shalom,
Life In The Body part 45 – Romans, part 220
Romans 14:18 For the one who serves Messiah in this manner is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Don’t we want to please God and receive the approval of people? The reference is to serving God in the Spirit. Yesterday we studied the previous verse, which calls us to a spiritual “shalom” that is higher than sacrifice. Today we learn that this is pleasing to God! However; it requires faith. Paul addresses the value of faith in another place….
Hebrews 11:6a Now without faith it is impossible to please God.
Let’s pause to review a Hebrew word I’ve taught you previously. “Kavenah” is “intentionality.” When we pray, we must pray with “Kavenah.” A derivation is “Ani Mit’kaven,” meaning “I really mean it (I’m intentional about that).” Prayers are meaningless without intentionality (and only God can judge that). The reality of our prayers are beyond words. They form our heart cry to God, as we believe in faith.
1John 5:14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him—that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him.
Pleasing God is a subject David Harwood dealt with in his Saturday RR. In it he says that God takes delight in us that goes beyond grace. God loves you! That’s not news, per se. But the idea that God loves particular things about you is news. The church has sold a “bill of goods” that we’re all just sinners saved by grace. We are that, but not “just” that. God loves the way you smile.
Rabbi Trail: I bet that sentence made you smile. Go ahead, smile, God is taking your picture. End RT.
Zephaniah 3:17 “Adonai your God is in your midst—a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.”
The idea that God is dancing “for joy over you with singing” should be a source of joy that will shine through the greatest storms of life. Matthew 25:23b “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a little, so I’ll put you in charge of much. Enter into your master’s joy!” May we all receive this blessing from Yeshua. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 28-Nov-2023 15th of Kislev, 5784
Ge 32:30[31]-33:5 1 Sa 4-5 Ps 46 Mk 5:1-20 (1 Co 6)