Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Shalom,
Is God opposed to pleasure? (Part 2)
Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again….22 But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law.
The “yoke of slavery” is not the fruit of the spirit.
Rabbi Trail: Nor is it the commandments of God, as some teach. What has changed in the New Covenant is our approach to God’s commandments. Grace is the God-given desire and ability to obey the God-given commandments that apply to you. Some commandments are for men alone, while others apply only to women. Some apply to Jewish people only and some to the priesthood only. We should all obey God as we are called. End RT.
The yoke of slavery is the false belief that we can perform our way into God’s favor. Performance must be coupled with faith. Hebrews 11:6a Now without faith it is impossible to please God. God wants us to enjoy life. The fruit of the Spirit is all about the enjoyable life. God cannot be opposed to pleasure, He created pleasure. But He is opposed to the abuse of pleasure called lust. Let me give you an example.
At what point does a social drinker become an alcoholic? Psychologists define an alcoholic as a person who is impaired in any area of life by alcohol. When a person’s career, marriage, family or social life become impacted or affected by alcohol, that’s alcohol abuse.
The same can be true of video games, or social media. We can even get out of balance in our relationships with other people. God gives us this command… 1 Corinthians 14:40 But let everything be done decently and in order.
Here is the question (I’ve written about this previously), God created His body to be a force for good in the earth. The rest of the world is doing everything possible to resist and actually be a force for evil on the body of Messiah. Paul had something to say about this… Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
When Yeshua asked this question, Luke 18:8b “But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” do you think He was asking rhetorically, or is the answer in doubt? Joshua 24:15b But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!”
As we worship Adonai, we are grafted in to the fatness of His root. By His command, the result is a fruit-filled life. Tomorrow, let’s take the time to analyze the fruit of the Spirit called joy.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 27-Jul-2022 28th of Tamuz, 5782
Nu 32:20-33:49 Eze 26 Ne 13 (Lk 21) 1 Th 1
Week 31
Memory Verse: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
151 7/25 Monday: Luke 1
152 7/26 Tuesday: Luke 2
153 7/27 Wednesday: Matthew 1-2
154 7/28 Thursday: Mark 1
155 7/29 Friday: John 1