Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Shalom,
I’m reading Lars Enarson’s “Daily Bread.” (https://www.thewatchman.org/) It is his plan (in book form – to be published in the near future for next year) for reading through the Bible in a year. This is very different from our F-260, which is the Bible in a year in chronological order. In F-260, we read about 2 chapters a day, 5 days a week (or about 520 chapters of the Bible). Since there are 1,189 chapters, that is only about 44% of the Bible.
Lars mixes readings from the Torah, prophets, writings, Gospel and other NT writings so that the entire Bible is read in one year. Here is the list of 5 readings for today, Genesis 8:15-19:17, Joshua 14, Psalm 13-14, Matthew 10, and 1 Peter 5
And my take-away from the Torah reading for today is….
Genesis 8:15-9:7 Of course our Torah portion this week is “Noach.” It is the story of Noah and the ark. Earlier today I was being ministered to on a group call when the leader said, “God gives instructions in small, simple and easily understandable sentences.” Here is such an example.
God told Noah… Genesis 8:16a Come out of the ark. And the Bible indicates that Noah did, in fact, come out of the ark. My “take-away” might surprise you. How many times has God given us a simple instruction and we ask Him for more before we have completed what He gave us. Following God demands that we not get out in front of Him.
Psalm 92:7b Today, if you hear His voice. Hear from God and obey. It’s not more complicated than that. Let’s stop right here and ask the Lord, “What have You told me to do that I have not yet done?”
We want more of Him, but we can only get more if we have fully incorporated what we have. There is no waste in the Kingdom of God.
Week 43
Memory Verse: Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 In it the righteousness of God is revealed, from trust to trust. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by emunah.”
211 10/22 Monday: 1 Corinthians 15-16
212 10/23 Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 1-2
* 213 10/24 Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3-4
214 10/25 Thursday: 2 Corinthians 5-6
215 10/26 Friday: 2 Corinthians 7-8
Question of the day: We find this phrase… 2 Corinthians 3:6b For the letter kills, but the Ruach (Spirit) gives life. How well do we understand this?
The Law is itself is not the problem. 1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately. Striving to achieve the Law is problematic (and the source of much trouble). Walking in grace (2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.) is walking by the Spirit.
The difference is not seen outwardly, it is felt inwardly. It’s the difference between (How much of this is optional, or required?), “Do I have to _________,” and Psalm 40:9(8) I delight to do Your will, O my God. Yes, Your Torah is within my being.”
It all boils down to control. Who is in control? The flesh wants to control the spirit and the spirit wants to control the flesh. Let’s recommit to give up control. Take yourself off the throne and crown Yeshua as Lord of your life. The resulting joy will never end. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice!
And the result of that? Philippians 4:7 And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.