Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Shalom *|FNAME|*
This is not a Messianic event. Here is a great way for our young people to join in “the conversation” with non-Messianic Jewish teens from around the world. If you’re a teen, this is your invitation to the “Fest2Gether.”
What? TeenFest2Gether – The First Virtual-Global Jewish Teen Festival
When? Sunday, August 23, 3 p.m. Learn more on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/304835807374209/
Description: Teens are invited to a creative, accessible platform for meeting other Jewish teens from Israel and around the globe, strengthening their Jewish ties and having fun in an international event for thousands of young people: a virtual international Jewish youth festival. The festival features interactive conversations, art workshops, study sessions, gaming areas, space and time for “mingling” and live performances from youth bands and first-rate artists.
______________________
Rabbi Trail: This may get a little preachy, especially for me. So I want to repent for that right now. Remember, the RR is not written for “you,” but it is written to me for me. You just get to read what I’m telling myself. So, when I write to “you,” that “you” is “me” looking at me in the mirror and calling me “you.” This reminds me of the old “can I be frank” line. I make me laugh. Please don’t call the men in their little white suites to come and take me away, yet.
Let me throw something out there. “Your gifting is not your call.” I put it in quotes and bolded it because I want you to read it as a headline. Your gifting is based on talent and/or aptitude. You are just naturally good at something. God has given you gifts by grace…
Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given in keeping with the measure of Messiah’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When He went up on high, He led captive a troop of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
That gift was not earned, it is a free gift from God based grace. And yet there are plenty of gifted people who never walk in the fulness of their gifting. And why is that? Because they lack character.
What is character? It’s a lot of things. It is self-discipline. It is humility. It is a willingness to be submitted. It is a desire to serve with love. And (based on the RR from yesterday) character is a desire to honor those in authority.
The principle we learn from Asher Intrater’s book “Covenant Relationships” is that “character is valued above gifting.” To be effectively used in the kingdom, gifts must be under authority. Yeshua understood that when He submitted to John’s baptism. Also, Yeshua was amazed at the centurion’s understanding of this concept.
Matthew 8:10 Now when Yeshua heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Amen, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith!
We are commanded in the Torah like this… Deuteronomy 12:5a Rather you are to seek only the place Adonai your God chooses… 6a There you are to bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices. (Gifts) and the Brit Chadasha says it like this… 1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has placed the parts—each one of them—in the body just as He desired.
Two more verses on submission and we’ll be done with this lesson. Jacob 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of Adonai, and He shall lift you up. And 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Week 32
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
156 8/3 Monday: Matthew 3-4
* 157 8/4 Tuesday: Matthew 5
158 8/5 Wednesday: Matthew 6
159 8/6 Thursday: Matthew 7
160 8/7 Friday: Matthew 8
Question of the day: We all want to avoid denominationalism and the minutia of the fine points of distinction. Right? Then how do we accomplish this from today’s reading? Hear the words of Yeshua… Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Answer: Two parts to my answer come to mind. First, we better know the word of God, and be submitted to it, and we better have good government.
Rabbi Trail: It is critical that we “be submitted” to God’s word. Even the devil knows the Word. He has read the Bible, he just doesn’t believe it or walk in it. The power is in submission. The power is in obedience. End RT.
Sooner or later issues arise. How we solve our conflicts will define us and determine our success. This is true personally, in marriage, in politics, and in the congregation. Our prison system is filled with people who could not effectively (righteously) solve their conflicts.
What makes “good government?” A clearly understood process for resolving conflict that is followed. God tells us what to do in Matthew 18:15 “Now if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault while you’re with him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
This message is connected to discipleship. Paul writes to Timothy about a four generational process. 2 Timothy 2:2 And what you have heard from me among many witnesses, entrust to faithful people who will be capable to teach others also. There it is… (1) many witnesses, (2) Timothy (who heard them), (3) faithful people, and (4) the “others” those faithful people will teach.
This is a good start. Two recommendations here. Find someone who is rooted and grounded in the Lord, and accountable within a faith community, to disciple you. Then find someone to whom you can “teach also.” Job 1 in the kingdom of God, be a disciple. Job 2, be a discipler. Please pray and ask God to speak into this. Now you’ve got homework.