Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, February 13, 2025
Shalom,
Today is Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year for the Trees. It’s a day of celebration and to plant trees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_BiShvat
Psalms
Psalm 25:4 – Part 4
Psalm 25:4 Show me Your ways, Adonai. Teach me Your paths.
Yesterday, we were speaking of waiting on the Lord. Well I’ve been waiting for this verse, and I’m so glad it is here today. The ways and paths of God have a great many advantages for those wise enough to follow Him. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. And, Yeshua is the Word made flesh to dwell among us. He called the disciples with two words, “Follow Me.” Likewise, He is calling you.
Rabbi Trail: We are so used to paved roads and super highways that we take them for granted. Imagine being part of a wagon-train 200 years ago, having to deal with every hardship with both stumps and potholes while trying to make progress on unimproved trails that were washed out in many places.
The first Yeshua followers were called followers of “The Way.” Following the ways of God involves obedience. Deuteronomy 4:40 “You must keep His statutes and His mitzvot, which I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may prolong your days in the land that Adonai your God is giving you for all time.” End RT.
Don’t believe the hyper-grace error. This is a false teaching that grace alone has replaced God’s righteous standard. We are warned against such heresy. Hebrews 12:5 Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai or lose heart when you are corrected by Him, 6 because Adonai disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He accepts.”
Hyper-grace negates the need for repentance. Repentance from what? Repentance from sin. What is sin? Transgression of the Law. And there you go… the hyper-grace heresy has no use for the Law. Think of the Law as God’s righteous standard. Can you imagine God without the holiness of His righteous standard? This week our Torah portion contains the Ten Commandments. Are they still in the Bible? “Betach!” (Of course!)
The benefit of following Yeshua’s way of life is not only to avoid potholes, but also to travel in the light. John 8:12 Yeshua spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we walk in the light, we will not stumble. 2Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make all the more effort to make your calling and election certain—for if you keep doing these things, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Messiah Yeshua, will be richly provided for you. The Lord will show us His way (to His eternal kingdom) through His Son, Yeshua. What would Yeshua do? Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 13-Feb-2025 15th of Sh’vat, 5785. Tu BiShvat
Ex 19:7-19 2 Ki 1-2 Ps 120-121 Jn 6:1-36 (2 Th 3)