Today, I share some thoughts (below) triggered by a recent video intended to provide instruction on the place of mercy as an aspect of divinity. The rabbi who was teaching explained that mercy was not to be taken as the only, or most significant feature to describe GOD. Nor was love.
THE BATTLE AXE: For Priests and Sons Only? (09/07/2014)—(4.) Anyone and everyone may benefit from sound advice, truth, and wisdom; yet, some will benefit from the same counsel more than others; and some will be cast down, overwhelmed, and ruined by the same counsel. A Christian believer takes the view that operations carried out by the same Spirit from GOD that worked during Creation is what makes the difference. The Bible is an incarnation, or appearance of divinity that may only be recognized and responded to by those having discernment (i.e., ability to use ones own spirit content to determine the spirit substance within various life experience such as encounters, events, messages, objects, other persons, purposes, and writings). For that reason, the Scriptures may not be dealt with casually, or as though they are designed for mundane and profane uses. The Bible does not supply gossip, fantasies, fictions, supernatural spells, or stories to amuse, enchant, and entertain. Influenced by political and social doctrines, many today misapply the truth of divine grace, and express desire for equal treatment by GOD that would deny distinctions through rank, service, the place of merit as well as a place for the exalted privilege and divine prerogative of the Almighty. Some argue there should be no provisions by GOD that do not apply across the board, and to all. Many complain that there do not have to be judgment and wrath against sin, the total elimination of sin, and the destruction of all sinners within the Lake of Fire. Because such persons also deny the absolute honor, integrity, and righteous of GOD, they effectively disqualify themselves as those who are trusting the goodness, love, and wisdom of the Almighty as the true sovereign over all sacred judgment. Thereby, they become speakers who are unwise, who are not proclaiming what they have received from GOD, and may not be trusted as those authorized by GOD to speak in his Name. It remains all attitudes, behavior, conduct, and works carried out among the faithful are not the same in their consequences, necessity, purpose, outcome, and value. Thus, in addition to salvation, believers also are encouraged to expect an exclusive judgment, wherein only those who are immortal and incorruptible will appear, to determine rewards for those who were devoted, faithful, steadfast and transparent as servants of GOD. See again Exodus 19: 5, Deuteronomy 14: 2, Romans 8: 16-18, 1st Corinthians 3: 11-15, 1st Peter 2: 1-10, Titus 2: 1-15 and Revelation 21; 7-8, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3: 12-19, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Hardened Spirit? (06/12/2014); Mary (06/13/2014); Sin in Mind not Deed? (01/06/2014); Hardness of Heart? (11/24/2013); Prayer on Behalf of Others? (11/25/2013)
Lately, I’ve been considering this: Those having no part with me now—because of my age, country of origin, ethnicity, or income bracket; those condemning, despising, rejecting, slandering, and snubbing me now—will have no part as brothers, friends, and partners with me in the times of divine reward that are to come. Sanctification, and the process of growth in ones divine content are operations where things at first isolated, loose and soft become bonded, crystallized and permanently joined to be solid, stable, and unshakeable.
There is a “hardening” of ones heart that is in accordance with being sealed to function as an agent of GOD through Christ. With this in view, we may say, the heart of Moses was hardened as surely as was the heart of Pharaoh. There can be a focusing of the believer’s inward spirit content and power. Thereby, those who serve GOD display commitment, single-mindedness, and the total investment (we say, self-sacrifice) that is very different from the hardening seen through a seared conscience that shuts out the earnest and heartfelt pleadings of divinity that draw one into intimate relationship with GOD.
Men are to understand that GOD, who is a spirit being, is made up of matter and substance that is not carnal, material or physical. The unchanging elements of divinity have been revealed to created beings and living creatures as inseparable aspects of existence and person such as awareness, awe, faith, forbearance, forgiveness, longsuffering, love, majesty, maturity, perfection, stability, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Many confuse compassion, a peculiar expression of love, with mercy. Mercy is a rubric of judgment, like attention to detail, impartiality and thoroughness. Without judgment, there is no mercy, just as there is no decision of guilt or innocence. Judgment is always a blessing, for the outcome of judgment is always peace. Judgment is the resolution of conflicts and the settlement of disputes through law. Thus, peace comes by judgment, not by war.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, love pertains to creation and life, not to death and destruction. The interactions and social reality of created beings and living creatures must be governed by principles that emerge from love; for love is also that aspect of judgment whereby the assignment of continuing trust and value are accomplished.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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