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Upright Man
“Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”
Ecclesiastes 7:29 29God created man in his own image (Genesis 1. 26) and He made him to stand upright. Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, was a great king, the son of David and he truly had a handle on what man is really like. In the first chapter of his writings it says “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1.14). When God created mankind on the sixth day, he was to have dominion over the rest of creation. (Genesis 1. 26). He was to care for God’s creation.
How we have failed. The first man sinned and all of us have been corrupted by that sin. We are creatures of many schemes. What is a scheme? Solomon seems to be writing of the many ways we have sought to defend ourselves or to attack others. The word is translated “inventions” in the KJV, and other translations. The word is only used twice in the Old Testament. In 2Chronicles 26.15, the other use of the word, it has to do with military readiness.
Self-preservation is high on the list of the natural man’s activities. This in itself is not totally bad but when it leads to attack on others, to elevate ourselves it becomes sinful. Our schemes can be very subtle. Gossip, and talking behind someone’s back can be part of a scheme to make ourselves look better. Falsely accusing someone else can be part of a scheme to hurt another. We are not to “invent” ways to hurt anyone.
The rulers of Israel at the time of Christ falsely accused the Lord Jesus, leading to His crucifixion. There were many schemes laid against Him throughout His time on this earth. There were schemes against the apostles Paul, Peter, and others who were attempting to spread the Good News, the Gospel.
We are not to be schemers. The Lord Jesus gave us a command. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). There is no place for scheming if we are obedient to this command.“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” – 1 John 3:11
True love will defeat any idea of scheming. Just a thought for the morning
Carl
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Tolerance
Thought for the morning
There is no scripture to open up with this morning, because “tolerance” is not a word found in scripture. However, does that mean we are not to be tolerant? I am glad that most people tolerate me. Other words we could use for the word tolerance are, open mindedness, acceptance, patience, and charity (love).
I think we could say God was very tolerant with Israel. Engineers when designing a particular part for, say an automobile, places tolerance on dimensions. If the part does not meet the tolerances, the part is scrapped or rejected. Tolerance sets boundaries!
When dealing with others there are boundaries we should not cross. We are to love the sinner but not the sin! Sin is outside the boundary of acceptance!
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
We are to warn those who are unruly, living in sin. But we should also be patient with all. Tolerance means knowing where the boundaries are. It is difficult dealing with sin in our own lives, and even more difficult exhorting another who is living in sin.
Luke 10:27 So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
We know the weaknesses we have in our own self. Our love for others is to introduce them to the One who dealt with our weakness of sin.
1 Peter 4:8 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Love is not to tolerate sin, but we are to love the sinner! Just a thought for the morning.
Carl
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Burn and Shine
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I can go to her
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Thought for the morning – written with tears
2 Samuel 12:22-23 And he (David) said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
When a loved one is going through the final steps of leaving this world, we who love this one agonize before the Lord with many tears, prayers and supplications. We may plead with the Lord, but we always know it is not our will but His that is to be done.
David fasted and wept for his newly born son who was deathly ill; born of Bathsheba, the son who would have been king after David (we know the story – 2Sam 12.13-23). But when the Lord took this young one from him what did he do? He no longer fasted but he looked forward to the time when he would go to him. There would be a day when David would join his son in heaven.
All of us have lost loved ones and it may be that the one whom you loved struggled for a long time before entering into the presence of the Lord. There were times of anguishing prayers but now this one that is loved is gone. They have gone to a better place!
And one day you shall go to the one you love and both of you shall rejoice in the presence of the King. No more pain, a new body, a realized Hope, all because of what Christ has accomplished on the Cross
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
My dear wife, Cathy, of so many years has gone to be with her Lord (November 26, 2015) and there have been many tears on my part. But I have the same “hope” as David. One day I shall join her in heaven. We will be a new creation, we will be in the hallelujah choir praising our Lord, we will enjoy our new homes in the mansion He is preparing.
I think of my dear wife. At the time of creation, Eve led her husband Adam into sin. My dear wife by her witness helped in leading me to Christ. Thank you Cathy.
Please forgive me for being so personal today. But, it’s just as a thought for the morning.
Carl
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Trust in the Lord
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Psalm 59:16 Proverbs 3:5 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 14:12 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
We can place our trust in many difference places. But many times our trust in someone or something does not pan out. Some have trusted us in some area and have been disappointed when we fail to fulfill that trust. There is One we can totally trust in, and that is our Savior the Lord Jesus. Trust and hope go hand in hand. We trust in the eternal hope we have in Him. We trust that God is faithful to His word and He will not abandon us! In the faitfulness of God lies our trust.
Trust in our own understanding will only lead to disappointment and finally lead to damnation!
Psalm 9:10 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
1 Corinthians 1:9 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Just a thought for the morning.
Carl