From Sons of Thunder to Sons of Wonder! [podcast]

“Let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” Zechariah 7:10

The disciples of Jesus, ALL who are “pure in heart” do not find reasons to think evil about anyone but rather find reasons to love and see the best – to believe the best until clearly proven guilty (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Jesus says “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). And those who are pure in heart have nothing but love for their brothers and sisters and their neighbor (1 John 3:14-15; 4:7-8, 5:1).

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1

DO we not realize that EVERY person alive today is God’s creation, His baby?

ASSIGNMENT FOR THE HONEST: WANT to see, want to test if you are real, genuine, authentic? Read the book of 1 John. 5 chapters. Read 1 chapter per morning for the next 5 days. Pray as you begin and be ready, fervent, to repent – to cry out to the LORD to purge, to strip yourself of every trace of evil, of deceit, of pride, to the core of your being – as He alone can do. Psalms 51

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Declare from your heart exactly what David declared – determine that you, from this instant forward, will: be honest, readily admit any sin, be teachable and correctible

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” Psalms 32:5

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalms 38:18

It this easy? No, not at first – due to our pride, which only underscores, confirms the need for such. Yet it gets easier. Eternal perspective: It’s going to hurt for eternity, in Hell, if you don’t take this to heart and do it now. No person will enter glory, not one person will “see God” that is not “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14-17; Revelation 21:8, etc.).

WHY would God bring someone into His eternal kingdom who conjures up and causes strife against His children? He simply will not. Repent or perish. Read 1 Corinthians 13 each morning.

RECENTLY had a man correct me on something. He may have had a good point. Yet, this man offered no edification, ever, and upon looking, there was found not even one Bible verse or the mention of God or Jesus Christ anywhere on his timeline. Is this a Matthew 7:1-6 situation?

“Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” 1 Corinthians 8:1

So how do we apply God’s Word in this case?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

Notice in this passage that Jesus is not saying never to judge. No, He is teaching us that we must deal first with our own evil hearts and until we do, God is not using us to correct anyone else since we’ve not even first corrected ourselves. In another place, our LORD commanded, “Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Keep in mind that the word “judge” has various meanings

On that note, as for this fool who is penning these words, I’ve found it to be a full time endeavor to keep evil self crucified. Yet, once the cross sets in, and we remain in that cross life, that crucified life, the unintermittent, the consistent flow of the resurrection life of Christ takes its place (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

God is able if we will learn, beginning now, to surrender, to declare with Jesus, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done,” and with John the Baptist, “He must increase but I must decrease,” and with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Luke 22:42; John 3:30; Galatians 2:20, etc.).

Just watch what happens when you give God the reigns of your life!

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

God doesn’t want me attempting to correct anyone else, even if my assessment is accurate, until I have personally repented and am living and walking in obedience, in an abiding walk with Jesus (John 15).

Verses to Memorize for a Changed Life

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:” Romans 7:18

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

PRAYER: Holy Father, I come to You now, a pauper. I come to Thee dear LORD with nothing in my hand I bring but simply to Thy cross I cling. Forgive my evil heart, pride, arrogance, and depravity. No one needs You more than I do Jesus, and I give You thanks afresh that it’s not by my works of righteous but rather by Your mercy that you died, were buried, and raised again from the dead to justify sinners like me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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