Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, August 13, 2021
Shalom,
A note about the Hebrew month Elul: You will notice (from the Daily Bread reading plan below) that Friday is the 5th of Elul. Elul is the month of preparation. Preparation for the fall feasts of the Lord that begin at the end of Elul, which is the beginning of Tishre. As a reminder to prepare, we sound the shofar every day during Elul. It is a reminder that a celebration is coming.
Rabbi’s note: Traditional Jews follow the Talmud which prohibits the sounding of any musical instrument (shofars included) on the Sabbath Day. So, the shofar is sounded every day in the synagogue during Elul except on the four Shabbats.
To celebrate at Yeshua’s return is holiness. Many will not be celebrating, but the people of God will have every reason to rejoice at His appearance. As Paul wrote to Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 8 In the future there is reserved for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not to me only, but also to everyone who has longed for His appearing.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 13 Aug 2021 5th of Elul, 5781
De 19:14-20:9Hos 9-102 Ch 4(Jn 18)Heb 3
Week 33
Memory Verse: Luke 14:33 So in the same way, whoever does not renounce all that he has, cannot be My disciple.
161 8/9 Monday: Luke 9:10-62
162 8/10 Tuesday: Mark 9-10
163 8/11 Wednesday: Luke 12
164 8/12 Thursday: John 3-4
165 8/13 Friday: Luke 14
I’m borrowing from my previous works again. The question of the day (from August 16, 2019: Which is it; love yourself or hate yourself? What does the Bible say?
Answer: The obvious answer is to love yourself. But it’s not that simple. In Luke 14 we find this verse… Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—and yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
That’s the choice, “hate your own life or be Yeshua’s disciple?” My advice, we must choose wisely. Before you stumble over the command to hate (which comes from the God of love), we must realize that God’s hate is not man’s hate. When God says “hate,” He means to put what you hate in a distant second, and put what you love in first place. God says “hate” to make a distinction between what is loved in first place and everything else.
Rabbi Trail: “Choose wisely” are the words of the Templar Knight who is guarding the Holy Grail in the movie, “Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.” It may be my favorite line in all of movie making. Warning!!! Do not watch this clip unless you are prayed up as it contains graphics and dramatizations that may cause night mares for both young and old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA7J0KkanzM Click at your own risk. End RT.
What does it mean to “choose Yeshua in first place?” It means having every future choice be under His authority. It means making Him number one in all things. It means making Him first and there is no one nor any thing even in line other than Yeshua alone. It means allowing Him to put everything else in another line and giving Him authority to put that other line in order.
It means submitting to His authority in all things. Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Rabbi Trail: The reason I write these RR’s is because I want to prove that what I think and believe is backed up by Scripture. Don’t believe me, but do believe the Word of God. End RT.
Jacob 4:7 Therefore submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you…. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of Adonai, and He shall lift you up.
Shalom. And love God first, then love others and yourself too.