Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, December 18, 2019
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
I’ve been thinking this morning about heaven. I wonder what awaits us in the great “by and by?” Or is is “buy and buy,” or is it “bye and bye?” I think that last one was it. The Bible says this… 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, “Things no eye has seen and no ear has heard, that have not entered the heart of mankind— these things God has prepared for those who love Him.”
So we don’t know? But wait, we may know more than we think. The very next words of the Bible at the start of 1 Corinthians 2:10 are the words that change everything, “BUT GOD…”
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God revealed these things to us through the Ruach. For the Ruach searches all things—even the depths of God.
Here’s what I know (this should be short). God is love. (1 John 4:8b). Rabbi Trail: Please don’t miss this. Those 3 words are life changing. Please listen to this song, then listen to the story behind the song. First this link… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-IpPX3RJA0 Now the story behind the song with this link… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ViOaCcd08
Satan is not love, but he does have a counterfeit. Hear the words of Yeshua… John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks lies he is just being himself—for he is a liar and the father of lies.
One of the attributes of end-time evil people is “lovers of self” (2 Timothy 3:2) Love is always self-sacrificing. Love draws us together. Lust is always selfish. Lovers give and haters take. Heaven is sweet fellowship with each other and God. Hell is hot (we all know that) but worse than hot it’s lonely. Even though it’s populated, the people there don’t give, they take. Be a giver, love well.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived—God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also shall reap. 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. 9 So let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good toward all—especially those who belong to the household of faith.
Week 51
Memory Verse: 1 John 4:10 This is love—not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atonement for our sins. 11 Loved ones, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
251 12/16 Monday: 1 Peter 3-4
252. 12/17 Tuesday: 1 Peter 5; 1 John 1
253 12/18 Wednesday: 1 John 2-3
* 254 12/19 Thursday: 1 John 4-5
255 12/20 Friday: Revelation 1
Question of the day: Do we even believe the Bible? 1 John 4:4b greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Answer: Let’s prove our faith. How shall we do that? The evidence is an absence of fear. Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Abraham believed God and by faith he rose up and left what was comfortable and started walking. He walked to a strange land. In those days there was no welcoming committee. In fact, there were bands of bandits, who would steal and kill. There was no law and order, just chaos.
I’ve been undervaluing Abraham’s response to the call “Lech L’cha” (To you, get up and go). There are other ways to understand those two Hebrew words. Here are some options. “Go for yourself.” In other words, “Abraham, for your own benefit, get up and walk.”
Another possibility is “Go to yourself.” In this translation, we understand that to find himself, Abraham was going to have to get up and follow God’s command. (Back to the question of the day.) If we really believe God is greater, then our faith in God overcomes our fear of the unknown.
Most of the disciples heard these two words and obeyed, “Follow me” and they answered as the prophets before them, “Hineni” (here I am and I’m ready to serve. Is He saying the same thing to you today?