Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, May 18, 2023
Shalom,
Day 40 of counting the Omer
Rabbi’s note: As you can see, today is the 40th day of counting the omer. In the year of Yeshua’s crucifixion, the reality of the counting was fulfilled. This is an annual memorial of the 50 days (from the 3rd day of Passover, resurrection day, to the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, giving of the Holy Spirit on Shavuot, Pentecost). In the resurrection, Yeshua taught the disciples the principles of the kingdom of God for 40 days. (Acts 1:3) and then He commanded them to wait in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4,5) before He was taken up on the 40th day. (Acts 1:9) Today is , we remember, that day of ascension. End RN.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav, Vitzivanu Al Sefirat Ha-Omer.
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us about the counting of the Omer. Today is five weeks and five days of the counting of the Omer.
Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.
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Victory Over Sin part 26 – Romans, part 87
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has set you free from the law of sin and death.
The law is the law, whether of the Spirit of life (in Messiah Yeshua) or of “sin and death.” The law doesn’t change, we do. Our “born again” experience through faith in Messiah Yeshua is the birth of the Spirit of God in us, the purpose of which is to make us into the righteousness of God. This is the expressed reason for Yeshua’s first coming.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Speaking of “righteousness,”… the Hebrew word for “righteous” is “Tzadik” or its variation (and feminine form), “Tzedakah.” The rabbinical definition of a “Tzadik” is a person who can control every action AND every thought so that he/she never violates or even thinks of violating any commandment of God. The one who is perfect from the cradle to the grave. The rabbis believe and teach that such a person can become a “Tzadik,” and that every generation has one. The Bible contradicts that thought.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous person on earth who does what is good and doesn’t sin.
Isaiah 64:5(6) For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a filthy garment, and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away, like the wind.
Of course, the New Testament makes this point dozens of time. But, notice I chose two verses from the Hebrew Scriptures to prove that there cannot be a human Tzadik. This is why God had to send His own Son, as the man/God or God/man to repair the problem of sin. We all have had that problem and there is no way to fix it if you’ve got it other than to receive the Spirit of God. Colossians 1:27b Messiah in you, the hope of glory!
“Trying harder” was never an option. That is actually the solution of secular humanism. Can you imagine pinning your future on the hope that you might somehow behave your way into heaven. If that is your reality, you have to hope that the paper clip you flicked at a person in the sixth grade doesn’t keep you out of God’s presence for eternity. (The “weight” of that paper clip might be enough to tip the scale against you and keep you eternally out of the presence of God.) Such a “works” mentality, can never be our plan for salvation.
Our plan for salvation requires the presence and the power of the One Whose name is “Salvation,” Yeshua! He is the law of the Spirit of life, as our subject verse clearly states. Put your future hope in Him.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age. 13 We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.
Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Day 40 of the Omer The Day of Ascension
Thu 18 May-2023 27th of Iyar, 5783 Ascension of Messiah Day
Day 40 of the Omer
Nu 3:14-39 Jer 10 Job 31 Ro 11 (Mt 27:32-66)