Whatsoever Ye Would that Men Should Do to You...the Wayfarer 6/27/14

Whatsoever Ye Would that Men Should Do to You
6/27/14

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

(Matthew 7:12)

This particular message is one that is long overdue, having been touched on many times, but having been a secondary point made in other messages instead of the primary one as it will be today.

It has taken the addition of new grandchildren in the home, and their interactions to call my attention, once more, to the need for this teaching, this law given us, by Christ Jesus, which exemplifies the love commanded within the single commandment left us to love one another as He loved us.

It is our daily interactions with each other, that reflect our true beliefs, our truest convictions, and test our faith in that which we profess to believe.

Children are a mirror of what is seen by them, a bibliography of what has been taught them, wisdom may be found in their actions, if sought, simply because of the total honesty of their character as is shown through their actions and interactions with each other and adults.

What are we teaching them? What example do they follow? What is acceptable from them, and if something is not acceptable from them, why should those same things be acceptable to adults, from others who have much more education and experience; which should, in turn, provide more wisdom than that held by a child?

Sibling rivalry and the ensuing arguments of childhood reflect the nature of children who have not yet gained the wisdom to know better.

They can, and will, be hurtful to each other, if allowed, and can, in fact, be miniature versions of the criminals to be found in the prisons when and if unattended ... left simply to their own devices; not understanding that taking what is not their own constitutes both covetousness and theft; that falsehoods constitute lies, however small, and for whatever the reason; that disrespecting parents affects them much more deeply than the parent, because of their failure to learn lessons already learned by (or supposed to have been learned by) those parents.

Admonishment, and chastening, must occur from the beginning to teach a child what is expected of it during its life; what is acceptable to parents, and what is not.

The primary teacher, the means of accomplishing any actual teaching comes through the example set by those within the household.

What is acceptable to you from others around you?

Are you accepting of falsehood and lies?

Are you accepting of dishonest business dealings when they are foisted on you?

Would you be accepting of the burglar coming in and stealing all you have built throughout life and all that you own?

Are you accepting of the slander, of others, who would spread false rumors about you, and your life, despite their not knowing anything about you?

Are you accepting of the judgmentalism that leads to that slander?

Would you accept the murder of your children, whether by violence or by deception that leads to addictions that kill just as readily as any weapon conceived by man?

Are you accepting of adultery from your wife or husband, willing to ignore all such behavior?

Just what are you accepting of?

If you are accepting of these things done by others, perpetrated upon you, you are not accepting of the basic laws given us by God.

As I said, children must be taught to live within the confines of basic morality, or they will ignore all attempts to teach them, later, themselves.

The Sermon on the Mount, found in the fifth through the 7^th chapter of Matthew is a good beginning of the guidance to be had from the Father, as it was given by His Son, for us to follow.

Throughout the teachings of Christ, the commandment of love rings loudly.

Throughout the teachings of Christ, the admonishment and chastening ring equally loud, for all who ignore the need to follow those teachings as well.

The laws of physics state that for each action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

This holds true in all of both the physical and spiritual lives of men, as Satan continually opposes all the things taught by Christ, cheapening those teachings, denigrating, and denying them through the actions and thought processes of men, who tout the teachings of Christ, then set the example opposite those very teachings.

To come to an appreciation, and to come to an adherence to those teachings, one must first hear the Voice of God as given through his Son Jesus, recognize sin, and shun it in themselves.

As Matthew pointed our through Jesus’ words, those who talk the talk, without walking the walk, dishonor the precepts and laws they talk so much about.

From the time of Adam, mankind has been, and continues to be, rebellious, incurring the wrath of God.

Unlike too many parents who laugh it off and allow children to simply learn all lessons learned from cartoons and peers, each equally unwise in what is required of us, God will not laugh off that rebelliousness and disregard of what he has given as some firm and fast “house rules”.

As adults, making our way through the twists and turns of life, the same things faced by our young are faced by us. Decisions are made to obey the rules, or to violate those rules, hoping that the parents simply do not find out, or will not chasten us.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent.”

(Revelation 3:19)

These words spoken by Christ to the church at Laodicea, pertain to all mankind as well as those to whom John was told to write them.

“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the  Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

(Hebrews 12:4-8)

Take note that that chastisement comes from the FATHER, not the siblings, but, that chastisement is a requirement to be a true part of the family, not a bastard son, set aside to his own devices to further incur the wrath of God.

Yep, children are a blessing! They are a source of wisdom! They are in and of themselves a most precious gift from God, that can show all who pay attention, the need to remember what our FATHER has tried so hard to teach us, what Jesus taught, and exemplified, what is still required as our childhood continues through the many years of life given us to live… as we remain His children always.

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of God”

(Matthew 19:14)

We are, and must remain children. We have and must instruct other children.

Just as a child must learn through having pushed the issues as far as possible, then finally being sorry for the actions taken by that child; to actually learn the lessons intended... so too must we come with the same simplicity of a child in the complete knowledge that nothing is hidden from our Father, and that we are dependent upon that Father not only to chasten us, but to love us and comfort and protect us as well.

 Disregard of the rules, any and all of the rules, is not acceptable.

Repentance for redemption is acceptable only if it is true repentance TO GOD the Father, through Christ Jesus.

Repentance is shown in action and interaction, just as lessons learned as children is shown, through obedience ...or lessons still needed through the disobedience of that child, both that they are to us, and, that we are to Him.

I remain, the simple sinner saved by grace through faith that I am, a child of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and most Holy and righteous God my Father; to whom all praise is due, and is given through remembrance and obedience, and most particularly through the blood sacrifice of Christ Jesus, without whom there could be no redemption, no acceptance from that Father.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against

I remain that same simple soldier, making my way across the battlefield, continually relying on both the chastisement, and the love, of that Father, knowing fully that the day will come when the spirit that lives within this rebellious child will be freed to be the adult intended by my Savior.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

(Matthew 7:12)

“When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

(Matthew 19 25 & 26)

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer