Matthew
5: 38-48 Amplified
Bible: 38 You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth [punishment that fits the offense, 39 But I say to you, do not resist an
evil [ who insults you or violates your rights], but whoever slaps you on the
right chee, turn the other toward him also [ simply ignore insignificant
insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate---maintain our
dignity, your self-respect, your poise]. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take
your shirt, let him have your coat also [ for the Lord repays the offender]. 41
And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks
of you and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
( in this period, any military
could ask regular people to help them carry their gear and to go as far as the
military needed to travel.) So could you imagine telling someone you will
not go help them and it is for Jesus’ sake? When we do anything, either for
Jesus, our spouse, those we work with, do we draw a big line not to cross to
help? Like some at the hospital where I was a couple of years ago, they could
not help you with an issue that caused them to walk across your room at the
time. I was told they were there for blood sugar checks but their hand held
machine was not working. Don’t ask her to do anything else, she only gets paid
for the blood sugar check!!!!! (The duty
nurse was on another floor all day!)
43 You have heard
that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and Hate your enemy; [Le. 19:18;
Psalm 139:21-22] 44 But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you. [Proverbs 25:21-22] 45 To show that you are the children of your
Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the
good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. 46
For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the
tax collectors do that? 47 And if you greet only your brethren, what more than
others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that? 48 You,
therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind
& character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as
your heavenly Father is perfect.
Be perfect: as your
Father in heaven…God is perfectly holy, perfectly good and pure. 1 Samuel 2:2 — "No one is holy
like the Lord."
Complete in moral character:
Romans 12:2 A. Bible: 2 Do not be conformed to this world ( this age),
[fashioned after & adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be
transformed (changed ) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals
& its new attitude]. So that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the
good, & acceptable & perfect will of God, even the thing which is good
& acceptable & perfect [in His sight for you].
Please
know the Lord gives what is wisdom in the ideals and new attitudes!
Job 37:7-13 Amplified Bible 7 God seals up ( stops, brings to a standstill by severe weather) the hand of every man [and now under His seal their hands are forced to inactivity], that all men whom He has made may know His doings (His sovereign power and their subjection to it).
8 then the beasts go into dens and remain in their lairs, 9
Out of its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. 10
By the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen
over. [Ps. 147:17-18]
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; He scatters the
cloud of His lightning. 12 And it is turned round about by His guidance, that
they may do whatever He commands them upon the face of the habitable earth. 13
Whether it be for correction
or for His earth [generally]
or for His mercy and loving kindness,
He causes it to come. [Exodus 9:18, 23; 1 Samuel 12:18-19]
From verse 7 God stops, brings to a standstill by severe weather the hand of every man. It is severe weather that forces inactivity. It is for man to know God’s doings that is His sovereign power and man is to be subject to His power!
The
fires in California have either stopped or completely slowed living there in
some areas! It is a jumping through hoops to get the papers to
rebuild their homes!
Proverbs 15:3 NKJV 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
In reading Job 37: 8-10 we know he is referring to winter
type weather. The animals find safety in
their dens, in their holes where warmth or dry is needed.
Yet even now, we see this same thing occurring over the U.
S. & around the world. Areas inundated with water like Hawaii, the areas of
North Carolina by hurricane strength storm two years ago and neighborhoods were
cut off by water around Mystic Camp in Texas last fourth of July.
There are areas that have 120 degree weather one day or for two days and
then drop back twenty to twenty five degrees to experience cold, wind and much
rain. The weather person has said more than once that the weather appeared more
like that of early winter. Interesting though they call winter type weather
here with much snow and it is 70 degrees and thunder storms with lightning and
much thunder.
There is an extreme marine heat wave simmering in the
Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. This started forming at the end of
last year but has worsened in recent weeks. The readings located from the
Scripps Pier in La Jolla has broken more than 25 daily temperature records this
years. We are just in the month of April. In this region surface water temp was
6,5 degrees and the sea bottom as 67.6 degrees. This related to the hottest on
April 15 about 100 years. Significant things are occurring around us. But……..
Are
we looking at God in His power as much as we look at the power say in the extreme of 11 inches
of rain in an hour and half? Or how about seeing whales, and the such wash
up on shore due to the lack of food that is most likely dead or just gone from
the area!!!
1. As
in this extreme, the flooding has curved tremendously the work man would do,
but because of the massive run of rivers over land and businesses, man is
stopped. There have been many casualties due to flooding.
2. Stopped
from all activities would include work, those in recreation and possible
sports. If the beasts of the field find safety in their lairs, should we not
also look for safety within the pages of God’s word?
3. Thought:
Even as the clouds are under the counsel of God, might our hearts do well to be
led under His management? For whether it is for correction, for his land or for
mercy, it is by the hand of God, like lightning that is designed to accomplish
his purpose of mercy and justice. See Job 36:30
Executing as in correction in Job 37:13: Genesis 7:11-12 Amp. Bible 11 In the year 600 of Noah’s life, in the seventeenth day of the second month, that same day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up and burst forth, and the windows and floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And it rained for forty days and for forty nights.
God said He would never flood the earth like He did then:
Genesis 9:13 I set My bow [rainbow] in the cloud, & it shall be a token or
sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me & the earth.
This correction : it is seen as that which sweeps away the works of men, to render the fields useless and cut off the wicked! Correction will hinder any production of a seed or of a crop! This type is seen like Prejudice and the effects is of much flooding in many areas.
Prejudice: is animosity, bias, injustice, discrimination… Prejudice occurs to all colors of people, not just to a select few. Prejudice can also occur against those who worship God, the one true God who created the heavens and the earth. And it can happen for other distinct reasons like of race, sex or age . But prejudice should not prevail in the life of believer’s if we really are in Christ Jesus. Remember: Jesus was discriminated against and He was God! He also showed people how to receive healing and then work not wait for a hand out.
As believer’s in Christ Jesus, we are to be about putting
aside fears, prejudices, resentments and hatred. In Jesus, we are to be giving
God’s love & compassion for all people. In this then we are true followers
of Him and carry the true mark for forgiving others. Any anger, any hatred,
harsh words, retaliation and revenge only result in more of the same.
It is sowing those seeds of violence, hate and revenge on
others.
It
is only in God’s love that we can conquer evil
…….Romans 12:17-21 Amp. Bible…17 Repay no one evil for
evil but take thought for what is honest & proper & noble [aiming to be
above reproach] in the sight of everyone. 18 If possible, as far as it depends
on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but
leave the way open for [God’s ] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. 20 but
if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so
doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. 21 Do not let yourselves be
overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.
2.
Executing
a productive land from Job 37:13,: it calls the timely rains. Any that
belong to the Lord, he will cultivate as His very own: being faithful , the
committed, submitted to God and His purposes for our lives.
Psalm 24:1…the Earth is the Lord’s & the fullness of it, the world
& they who dwell in it.
3.
For
executing mercy from Job 37:13: that man might
worship God. That just like the man Elihu who came
to see Job, he regarded the supremacy of a mighty God and gloried in His
majesty. It is that within God’s mercy, we would become more fruitful. Being
people who give thanks and worship with praise on our lips.
God will have nothing to do with anyone who discriminates against another. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves!
Are
we seeing by the impacts of the floods in so many areas, God speaking? Is He
revealing that we must look toward Him and not for vengeance? Not for any
prejudicial matter?
1. What
God has executed in regard to the workings of the weather, no matter the time
of year, He holds them all by His power.
2. Beasts
of the field know enough to remain within their protective habitations.
3. However
calm and docile our days may seem, when the tempest blows, and rains fall in
inches within an hour, does one take note?
4. Will
we not seek the Lord while He may be found?
Jesus is the Great Intercessor, and will pray for us. He
will not frighten us or hold us in terror. But we are to fear the Lord …to hold
Him in His majesty and glory. We are not thrown out of the covenant He has made
with us. In His mercy we should be driven toward His mercy. Choosing Him for
His commandments, truth, wisdom and grace, we are choosing life in Jesus.
Teaching at: Voice of Prayer
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