Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Shalom,
Day 25 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 three weeks and four 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 16 – Romans, part 77
Romans 7:8 But sin, taking an opportunity, worked in me through the commandment all kinds of coveting. For apart from the Torah, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the Torah; but when the commandment came, sin came to life 10a and I died.
Let’s break this down, one piece at a time. First, let’s consider this quote… “Sin, taking an opportunity.” What could that mean? We must come to grips with this truth, sin is breaking God’s commandments, and His heart. This is without degree. Break God’s commandments a little or break them a lot, it’s all the same to Him. Rebellion is rebellion, and any rebellion violates God’s sovereignty.
Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again…. 13 Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom—only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another…. 16 But I say, walk by the Ruach, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
Sin always produces death. (Death came into the world through sin, Adam’s original sin.) Yeshua produces life, and the contrast is clear. Romans 6:23 For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. So, while sin takes every opportunity, we must resist in the Spirit. This is done through prayer.
Jan and I routinely pray cleansing prayers, as we move through our day. There is a “spiritual swirl” in public places. We don’t want any of that ungodliness to attach to us. Here is an example of such a prayer. “Lord, we make no fellowship with the evil works of darkness. We rebuke and cast off anything coming against us which is not from you. We loose Your protecting love over us. In the name of Yeshua, we pray. Amen.” It’s not the words, it’s your heart. Let the Lord lead you.
Let’s now consider another phrase from our subject text. “Apart from the Torah, sin is dead.” It is only by revelation of the written Word, the Holy Scriptures, by the Holy Spirit, that we even know what sin is. As soon as we feel guilt or shame, we have a symptom of an open door to darkness. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah will all be made alive.
Let’s pause for a moment as we bring today’s RR to a close. Paul is in the middle of three chapters (Romans 6, 7 & 8) imploring the people of God to be set free from sin. He would later write to Timothy… 1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately. The legitimate use of Torah is to draw us into a relationship with Yeshua. The illegitimate use of Torah is to use it as a stick to beat us for being separate from God for violating it.
None of us are exempt. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all need our Savior and Lord, Yeshua HaMashiach. Just as light and darkness do not mix, so too, sin and righteousness do not exist in the same place at the same time. Give your life to Him, and let His light shine in you and through you. Shalom shalom.
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.”
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Day 25 of the Omer
Wed 3 May 2023 12th of Iyar, 5783
Le 23:1-22 Isa 61-62 Job 17 2 Jn (Mt 17)