Page 22 - The Standard Volume 2

Luke 6:27-38
“27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
are blind, dressed like they belong to a good church. These have an appetite for the world, unfiltered in their choices and daily living—without regard to how their actions, behavior, speech, and ways align with the Scriptures or their witness for Him. Painfully I must say, there are many good people headed to hell, having been church attenders and occupiers of religious positions in the Church. Why? They sing, pray, attend, and have activity like they are unto the Lord but their appetite and tastes still entertain the ways of the world. Christianity is a costume of safety which they wear for point of identity and social convenience, but it immediately comes off when that flesh needs one more dance with the secular artist, one more rendezvous with the devil's venues of entertainment, and one more crack at success on the world's terms.
Matthew 13:10-17
“10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and
seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Those who do not hear God—cannot hear God, and because they cannot hear, it is impossible to love, show mercy and compassion, forgive, and consistently make choices that honor Him. Living unto His Glory is a cliche and not a quest, and the LORD knows those who belong to Him and those who do not. Go deeper and crucify or mortify the deeds of the flesh and anything that His Word or Holy Spirit convicts you of—and have a resolved mind to not allow anything in your ears, eyes, or heart which cannot be done in His presence or unto His pleasure. S
The way of the Lord is not obvious nor is it accessible to those who seek an easy way in life. It is a life of self-sacrifice, not self- love; giving, not receiving; helping, not soliciting assistance; a cross, not a mink coat per se. The Lord is the one who opens the eyes of them who seek Him, but those who don't seek Him
22 THE STANDARD | January 2020