Intent...the Wayfarer 11/2215

<sup>In this time of indecision and questioning of what to do about those in need of succor and comfort, what must first be questioned is not politics, not nationality but:

INTENT
11/2215</sup>

⁹ Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

¹⁰ Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

¹¹ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

¹² 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.

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

(Matthew 7:9-21)

Works are inadequate for salvation.

Works do not, in and of themselves, bring forth good fruit.

Good fruit is what is established by what is within the heart of the doer, or what is lacking in the heart of the doer.

What is within the heart is established by faith in Christ Jesus, or lack of faith in Him.

All the works that are done for any superficial reason cannot and will not produce “fruit”.

Ephesians 2:8-10King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It is indeed possible to “do good works”, as was stated by Jesus in the opening verses. These works are done for reasons that have nothing to do with the grace that has been given, and come only begrudgingly, as an obligation that is derived from what is within the heart of a carnal man.

Fruitful works, on the other hand have nothing to do with obligation, but have all to do with what lies within the heart of the doer.

Grace alone powers the faith in Christ Jesus that may correct the heart of man to become created in Christ Jesus.

That creation is a creature that is unlike the one it once was, and is capable of “good works” not for any personal gain, attention or accolade, but simply because of having seen and recognized a need in our fellow creatures.

That need generates the necessity of action on the part of the doer, whose faith demands that he do more than just recognize needs of those of his own, or those like him, but that he recognize that need in ALL that have that need.

Political correctness is an inadequate motivator.

James 2:8-17King James Version (KJV)

⁸ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

⁹ But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

¹⁰ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

¹¹ For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

¹² So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

¹³ For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Faith proclaimed, without follow-through is inadequate, having come from an unregenerate heart.

Works done, without faith, fall into the same category, and what guides decisions cannot be from what is convenient, politically correct or what seems to be expected by humankind, but instead should be what is expected by God alone…that which lies within the heart of the doer, not what lies on the surface of what is seen as expedient by men.

Jesus addressed the heart of mankind throughout his ministry. It was to that heart that he ministered. It was to that soul contained within the man that he continually appealed and with which he pleaded for recognition of the need to come before God, undefiled in HIS sight.

Matthew 15:7-19King James Version (KJV)

⁷ Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

⁸ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

⁹ But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

¹⁰ And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

¹¹ Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

¹² Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

¹³ But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

¹⁴ Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

¹⁵ Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

¹⁶ And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

¹⁷ Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

The time has come to examine that which is in the heart of mankind, each and every individual doing that assessment for themselves, without regard to the assessment of their fellow creatures and what might be thought by them or what impression may be made on man by man.

The impression that must count now in these days, that most assuredly will count the most, will be the impression made on God, through having honestly having accepted Christ and having the faith in the Grace given by HIM.

Revelation 22:10-21King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

¹¹ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

¹⁵ For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

And Amen!
the Wayfarer