Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, May 19, 2023
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Day 41 of counting the Omer
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 27 – Romans, part 88
Romans 8:3 For what was impossible for the Torah—since it was weakened on account of the flesh—God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh— 4 so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Ruach.
Do you know what a “life verse” is? It is a verse of Scripture that speak into your life in a defining sort of way. It is possible to have a few such verses that tell your story. In other words, it is a verse that helps define your life. Romans 8:4 in exactly that for me. One of Jan’s life verses is Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us. 21 to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Rabbi Trail: In a moment I’m going to use the term “Judaizers,” but before I do, I want to define it. A “Judaizer” is one who believes that everyone should practice Judaism, even non-Jews. Paul addresses Peter on this and wrote about it in Galatians 2:1, pointing out his error and hypocrisy. Jews don’t even practice Judaism to each other’s liking. (Jewish people know there is always someone more Jewish.) How can we then put that burden on those who are not Jewish?
I, on the other hand, do not believe or teach such things. I believe Gentiles have come into the community of God to compliment the Jews who have come into the community of God, and vice-versa. Like in a marriage, a man and a woman don’t become interchangeable, they mutually compliment one another.
I do, however; believe that everyone who follows Yeshua, should take on His character, which includes obedience to God. This is Paul’s point in Romans 8:3&4. When he says “fulfilled in us,” he is speaking of all of us, who follow Yeshua. End RT.
As Messianic Jews, we are commonly labeled as “Judaizers.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who try that put that label on us like to use select verses from Galatians. Verses like Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law— 5 to free those under law, so we might receive adoption as sons.
Yeshua sets us free… Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again. We are set free, not to live like hell, but to walk responsibly in righteousness, as our father, Abraham, was commanded. (ESV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”
The difference is dramatic. It is the difference between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. The Hebrew word for “walking” is “Halacha.” It means the method of observance (way of walking). Our Halacha must be Spirit led. The flesh has to strive for perfection (we try harder – to be accepted). The Spirit enjoys the “Shalom” of acceptance by grace and then easily and naturally flows in the ways of God.
“It’s a heart thang!” When God has our heart, everything else flows into right order. Through Yeshua, God condemned sin in the flesh, so that we would be the people who actually do obey Him in the spirit as we walk in righteousness. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Day 41 of the Omer
Fri 19 May-2023 28th of Iyar, 5783 Yom Yerushalaim
Nu 3:40-51 Jer 11-12 Job 32 Ro 12 (Mt 28)