Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Shalom,
Love Each Other / Glorify God part 7 – Romans, part 232
Romans 15:7 Therefore accept one another just as Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God.
Tomorrow, we’re going to see from the context, that to “accept one another” is specifically talking about Jews and non-Jews accepting each other, which gives glory to God. Is this something new, or is it established elsewhere in Scripture? The best example I can find is in Ephesians 2.
Ephesians 2:14 For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility— 15 the law code of mitzvot contained in regulations. He did this in order to create within Himself one new man from the two groups, making shalom, 16 and to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross—by which He put the hostility to death.
If God “broke down the middle wall of separation,” how dare we re-erect it! We’re going to see that the true miracle is that any of us are included in the family of God. The histories of both the Jewish people and the non-Jewish people are filled with rebellion and an anti-God spirit. Only by sending His own Son to reconcile the world to Himself do any of us enjoy the grace to be loved by God.
Yet, He does love us. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. How will the non-believing world know this is the truth? John 13:34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another.
What is so “new” in the commandment to “love one another?” Answer, “Nothing!” It is as old as the Torah (Leviticus 19:18). What’s new is the love of Yeshua, which is so complete that “Messiah died for us.” So we also must be willing to die for one another. Not only that, but this is self sacrificing love of Jews for non-Jews and of non-Jews for Jews. We haven’t seen that very much in the world lately, now have we?
The war in Gaza is showing the world how much hate there really is between people groups with significant differences. What a testimony when Yeshua reconciles these warring parties to harmony, fellowship and good deeds. This is the mission of Yeshua. Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross—whether things on earth or things in heaven!
Yeshua has delegated this mission to us… 2Corinthians 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Messiah God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them; and He has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us.
We’re waiting for Yeshua. I think He is waiting for us. Let’s bring forth the harvest together. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 13-Dec-2023 1st of Tevet, 5784
Chanukah: 7th Candle (Wednesday night)
Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Ge 41:53-42:18 1 Sa 19 Ps 59 Mk 13 (1 Co 16)
Nu 28:11-15; 7:42-47, 1 Macc 11-12