Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....SEPTEMBER 7, 2020
This is the final in a series of teachings on the Mighty God we serve. I pray in some small way it has touched you as a Christian.
The reality that we live in a hostile environment challenges Christians to stay focused on the coming of Christ to receive us unto Himself, to stay away from evil, to stay in touch with God's Will as revealed in God's Holy Word.
IN ALL THINGS TRUST GOD AND GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOOD THAT COMES FROM HIM
Things turn out best for folks who trust God because God helps folks who trust Him to make the best of the way things turn out. To trust God in all things is to give thanks in everything.
"Yeah, right," someone says cynically. "Paul also admonished us to rejoice always! Rejoice and give thanks!" . . . "Surely the Lord does not expect us to rejoice and give thanks when we are sick ... facing a crisis such as a loss of this or that . . . bereaved!"
A lot of what Paul called on Christians to do, and adhere to, does cause us to pause - because in our day we just don't have enemies to contend with the way he did - or do we?
My skepticism about "rejoicing always and giving thanks in everything" began to subside then replaced with optimism after reading about Corrie Ten Boom's survival of her ordeal in a Nazi concentration camp as described in a book she wrote.
Corrie tells about the infestation of fleas that nearly drove her and sister Betsy crazy. Fleas got in their hair, under their skin, made sleeping impossible - and they had no soap or flea powder.
Corrie's sister Betsy, though, reminded her of this verse, "in everything give thanks", but Corrie said, "I cannot and will not give thanks for fleas.”
Betsy responded, "We can at least give thanks that we are together and that they did not check our belongings so that we still have our Bible."
Corrie agreed to give thanks for her sister and for their Bible. They did not give thanks for the fleas, but they did give thanks for whatever they could, even while living a flea-bitten existence.
Years later, looking back at their horrible experience,, it occurred to Corrie that for yet another reason she and her sister should give thanks: Since they were flea infested, neither of them was ever raped by prison guards.
Sometimes it's hard to find something to give thanks for, but keep on asking God to help you see any good that you may have overlooked - not that we seek to rationalize that which may be irrational, but to honestly see if there be anything of good report - any way to turn a negative occurrence into a positive outcome.
Remember Garrison Keillor's theme song on the radio show "Prairie Home Companion" - "Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side of life."
How the Apostle Paul could rejoice despite all of the adversity he endured is beyond comprehension to those whose relationship to the Lord is rather casual - but, understood fully by those who have "been there, done that”.
Early in his ministry Paul and Silas sang hymns and prayed in their prison cell. Later in his life, yet again in prison - this time awaiting trial and execution - Paul wrote a brief letter to the Church at Philippi, urging them to rejoice.
Likewise, in his letter to the Thessalonian Christians, he calls on those who trust God in all things to give thanks - I Thessalonians 5:16-22.
In these exhortations, as Paul concluded his advice to the Thessalonians about getting ready for the coming of the Lord, he made seven announcements based on firmly-held beliefs:
(1) God created us to be happy, so always be joyful in the Lord as we await (as we look forward to) His coming to receive us unto Himself.
We know not the hour nor the day when our Lord may come, but we live daily with the hope within us that He will indeed keep His promise to receive us unto Himself - whether it be sooner or later ... in life or in death ... body and soul raptured or body and soul reunited when the "dead in Christ shall rise." Rejoice and give thanks.
(2) God's gift to us is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, so constantly pray that we might live a life worthy of that gift.
There is never a shortage of things to pray about, nor a time of day when prayer is not in order, so cultivate an attitude of readiness to pray whether our prayers take the form of words or thoughts or "groanings" - inexpressible urges that can occur in private or in public. The Spirit of God communicates our unspoken prayers to the throne of grace even while we are engaged in conversation or some type of activity! Rejoice and give thanks!
(3) God works in and through all circumstances in our lives to bring about that which is good for those who love Him, so always look for the silver lining and give thanks in everything -- for the tiniest blessing that comes to mind despite our human tendency to dwell on the negative.
Giving thanks in everything! does not mean that we are thankful for evil destructive events that so often overwhelm us and cause us to despair . . . but we do thank God for His presence during those times and His promise to work in and through all things for our good.
(4} An attitude of thanksgiving comes not from outward circumstances but from the joy in our hearts put there by the love of God that sent His Son to die for our sins, plus the coming into our hearts of the Lord Jesus whose Holy Spirit gives us peace during storms of life and stability in the midst of life1 s ups and downs.
"In times like these" (whatever might have been the negatives that concerned Paul in Thessalonica or negatives that maybe swirling around you and me in this the 21st century) vital to our emotional as well as spiritual well-being is our reliance on the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit.
When the Spirit ignites a little spark of joy within us, it would be a mistake to stifle that spark and not let it burst into a flame of excitement over our status as children of God.
Rather than stifle the Spirit, our prayer should be: "Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me ... Melt me, mold me, fill me; use me . . . Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me."
To yield to the Holy Spirit of God is to acknowledge His indwelling presence . . . accept His role as our most trustworthy interpreter of the Will of God . . . to be led by the truth of God's Word which the Spirit reveals to us and prods us to obey.
(5) Thus, refrain from turning a deaf ear to prophetic "thus saith the Lord" messages proclaimed by servants of God - whether they be prophets, priests, preachers or parishioners. Listen to the Word with an open mind, a receptive heart, and a will to do what's right in God's sight.
(6) In the process of learning the Word and doing the Will of God, be sure you rightly understand "what He says and what He wills". Test the truth of it -¬ ask questions, clarify, pray about it, meditate on it until it is revealed to you: "This is the way, walk ye in it."
(7) Once the message we've received via hearing or reading is perceived to be from the Lord and has been received into our hearts as truth, there should be no doubt about its validity ... our ability to be and do what's right in God's sight.
No Christian should have to be told to "hold onto what is good'' and to "stay away from every kind of evil" - but since some Thessalonians were still in spiritual infancy, Paul thought it important to remind them of their moral duty.
On the other hand, Paul would expect mature Christians to cling to good and shun evil - as a result of spiritual growth and development.
An attitude of gratitude just comes naturally to those of us who love the Lord and trust Him to work in all things to bring about that which is good -that which is good not only for we His people but also for His kingdom. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
In all things trust God, and in everything give thanks, for the Lord is good and His mercies endure forever! Let us make Paul' s benediction ours:
"May God himself the God of peace, sanctify you in and through all your circumstances.
"May your spirit, soul and body be found blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that the One who called you is faithful and will do what he says he will do.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”! I love you all and I pray in some small way these past several teachings on the Powerful God we serve have helped you.
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
This was from our first Reflections in 2011.....WOW, how time flies:)
Do you "really" think you know what love is??? Try these. They are from 4-8 year olds...now this is love:)
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,"
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
"There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore,"
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
TO ME THIS IS THE BEST ONE....
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget,"
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
Last week we looked at the structural development of Judaism....This week we look at Judaism: Today...
It is impossible to understand modern Judaism without knowing the events and experiences of the Jewish people since the time of Moses (briefly outlined in chapter 11). In its number of followers, Judaism is among the smallest of the world’s living religions, with slightly more than fourteen million adherents globally, yet it exerts a proportionally larger influence on world affairs today, in part because of the modern state of Israel, formed in 1948.
Many people, particularly Christians familiar with the Old Testament—the Hebrew Scriptures—think of Judaism in terms of what they’ve read in Exodus or Deuteronomy. Therefore, we must note that modern Judaism is Rabbinic, or Talmudic. Without a temple or sacrificial system, much of the Law cannot be followed. Over many centuries, influential rabbis have reflected and written on how to practice the Jewish faith under changed circumstances. The Talmud (see chapter 11) is the collection of those reflections and the basis for modern Judaism.
Jewish life today is primarily lived out in the home and secondarily in the synagogue. Practicing Judaism is more about daily life than about specified beliefs or formal rituals, although these do exist. Shabat, the Sabbath, begins at home on Friday at sundown; many who observe it faithfully do not attend synagogue regularly. Kosher dietary laws, an elaborate system of what can be eaten, when it can be eaten, and how to prepare it, were expanded by the rabbis from biblical commands to avoid the meat of certain animals and, in particular, Exodus 34:26, which states, “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” From this came a complete separation of meat and dairy products, and the dishes used to cook and serve them, in a kosher kitchen.
Nearly pandemic persecution, in particular the Holocaust, has had profound influence on modern Jewish thinking and theology. Most notable is the rise of Zionism, a movement that began in the nineteenth century to support the creation of a state where Jewish people could live without fear of persecution by their own government. The Zionist movement today supports the defense and development, politically and militarily, of Israel. Not all Jewish people have Zionist leanings.
Theological differences have resulted in multiple branches of Judaism today. The largest group worldwide, including in Israel—while not an organized branch—is non-observant Jews, who do not follow Jewish religious practices at all. The largest official segment is the Orthodox branch, which strives to keep all 613 mitzvot (commandments) of the Mosaic law. Some ultra-Orthodox (or Hasidic) subgroups, usually following the teachings of a particular rabbi, are even stricter than the Orthodox. Some of these have missionary organizations that target, primarily, the less strict and non-observant Jews.
By contrast, the Reform movement, popular mostly in Europe and the U.S., has sought to understand and practice Judaism in more modern ways. Christians would understand this branch of Judaism as more theologically liberal. For example, while most Orthodox Jews still anticipate a personal Messiah and believe in a future resurrection of the dead, Reform Jews await a messianic age of peace that will be brought about by human effort, and they have no expectations of life after physical death.
Between the Orthodox and Reform branches is Conservative Judaism, found mostly in the U.S. Believing Judaism must adapt to today’s world, but finding Reform departures from Talmudic customs excessive, Conservative Jews seek to keep the 613 mitzvot, but with twenty-first-century interpretations. For example, Orthodox Jews will not drive on the Sabbath and must live near enough to a synagogue to walk to Shabat services; Conservative Jews do not believe driving is a prohibited Sabbath activity. Reconstructionist Judaism grew out of the Conservative movement and focuses on the importance of culture as well as religion in understanding what it means to be Jewish.
Perhaps the most important life event for a Jewish person is becoming an adult, marked by the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah for boys and, in Reform and Conservative Judaism, Bat Mitzvah for girls (at ages thirteen and twelve, respectively). The term means “son/daughter of the commandments.” At this point, theologically, a Jewish person is now morally responsible to keep the Law. When the rich young ruler tells Jesus he has kept the commandments “from my youth” (Luke 18:21), he could have said, “since my Bar Mitzvah.” Traditionally, this important rite of passage is marked with much celebration by the extended family in addition to special synagogue services. In small Jewish communities, this is significant because a minimum of ten adult males are necessary to form a congregation.
The head of each synagogue is a rabbi. Reform Judaism encourages female rabbis; Orthodox rabbis must be men; Conservative Judaism leaves to each congregation whether or not they will accept a female rabbi. The person who actually leads synagogue services, however, is the cantor, or hazzan. Large congregations seek a cantor who not only sings well but also can compose original music. Usually the cantor is also responsible for coaching young people in Hebrew as they prepare for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Misunderstood by both Jews and Christians is Messianic Judaism. Messianic Jews are ethnically Jewish but believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah promised to the Jewish people. Following centuries of persecution and anti-Semitism by Christians, Jewish people no longer accept Messianic Jews as Jewish, believing them to have become Gentiles. And because many Messianic Jews gather in their own congregations and retain Jewish cultural forms of worship, neither do some Christians accept them. They are best seen as ethnically and culturally Jewish and theologically Christian (in accepting the New Testament). There are about four hundred Messianic congregations in the U.S.
Ethnic stereotypes tend to exaggerate or distort observations about a particular group. Today’s athletic success by African-Americans is attributed by some to a biological advantage in muscle structure (despite scientific evidence proving no genetic difference). In the 1920s and 1930s, Jewish people were widely believed to have an inherited racial advantage in playing basketball, and many of the early professional teams had a high proportion of Jewish players.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou