(1Corinthians 13:7) “Believes all things...”
This morning I am thoughtful about the earth’s orbit and the suns association to it. I think about the prayers of a RIGHTEOUS MAN and what that entails with the inclusion of love as the ultimate banner. Maybe now you understand know active my brain can be at times. If I was too let my imagination run away from me, I could quite easily become a loose cannon under the heading “prophet of God”. Many kooks have lived out their lives misleading hundreds and sometimes even thousands have blindly followed. All that is needed is an influential Charismatic type of character, a believable topic, a person with charm, good-looking would help but not essential, with a thought they once had but now have become official in their reasoning as they believe they have the message for the hour. Many recipes for potential disaster, all around us and in fact it will only get worse as it becomes more of a problem. The Bible is clear on this!
Some facts on the earth’s orbit; “The Earth's radius is 6370 kilometres. The sun's radius is about 100 times greater. The earth orbits around the sun once per year. The orbit is slightly elliptical in shape, with the sun at one of the foci of the ellipse. The orbit defines a plane containing the sun. The average distance from Earth to the sun is about 149 million kilometres. The distance from Earth to the sun varies from about 147 million km (that is, from about 92 million to 95 million miles, or about +/- 1.4% from the mean distance). The earth rotates once per day (24 hours). The rotation defines an axis of rotation, the North Pole, the South Pole, and the equator. [Actually the earth rotates slightly more than once per solar day, because the earth moves a little bit in its orbit around the sun each day. As a result, any particular place to face the sun most directly again, the earth must rotate a little bit more than 360 degrees.] [Do you know how latitude and longitude are defined? During the course of a day, any particular location will move in a circle coinciding with its latitude circle; the local time of day (defined in terms of the position of the sun in the sky) is the same everywhere along a longitude line. At any moment the sun illuminates half of the earth. The boundary between the sunlit and unlit halves of the earth is called the circle of illumination or the terminator.” (The Department of Geosciences)
What is my point? It is rather simple, but concise; the perfect detail that God has established in the heavens is phenomenal, everything is in perfect harmony. Some of the lies that are thrown around by teachers about creation are only opinions, but they carry serious consequences as they oppose God himself. Why then have I used some of SFSU’s findings, because they are factual and not left to speculation? But when they begin to suppose this and that then I cannot and must not receive it. If I do, it could be to my own peril. Facts we welcome, but speculation must be treated with great caution. Prophets speak on behalf of God, they always have, but amongst then must be false prophets. The Bible is once again very clearly on this.
How do I guard myself and my family from the lure of the false prophet? It is rather simple; I only ever deal with the facts. I look to the finished work of the cross to establish the truth. I begin with an understanding that the canon of scripture is complete. The Bible has been written and nothing needs to be added and nothing needs to be taken away. How do I know that I am on the right path with my understanding? The very same bible that teachers me this truth, also teachers me to be on the lookout for that which is false; “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) – And although He is now seated in heaven with God the Father, he has left us with the written Word, the Bible. These are the facts and this is my protection, God the Holy Spirit will guide us and lead us into all truth but He will never contradict Himself, which would be impossible. He will only ever confirm the Word. We have the facts at our fingertips, but sometimes our itching ears look to wants, contrary to sound doctrine, be warned if we lean on our itching ears we are in danger of hell and damnation. We must stand on the facts found in God’s Word, it is the only way we will ever be safe.
Just as the sun abides by God’s Word and does what He has willed it to do by a simple command. We must also find His will for our lives, how would it help us if all began to pray that the earth would change direction, it wouldn’t! As He has established His will in that regard! We must find the will of God for our lives! And we will only ever find it in His Word, which is the Lord Jesus, and we are never left clutching at straws, the answers are to be found in the Bible. For a righteous man to be effective, he must find the will of God for each and every circumstance or else he will be ineffective, we can prayer all night but if it is against the will of God how will that help us or those we pray for? It won't! We must make it our lifetime goal to find God’s will for our lives. The answers are only to be found seeking out the truth in and through the Bible. With that said; we also understand the importance of love, God’s teaching on love and not opinions. This now needs to be explored further. We will pick up where we left off yesterday; Matthew Henry our teacher...
“It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1Corinthians 13:6-7)
IX. The matter of its joy and pleasure is here suggested: 1. Negatively: It rejoiceth not in iniquity. It takes no pleasure in doing injury or hurt to any. It thinks not evil of any, without very clear proof. It wishes ill to none, much less will it hurt or wrong any, and least of all make this matter of its delight, rejoice in doing harm and mischief. Nor will it rejoice at the faults and failings of others, and triumph over them, either out of pride or ill-will, because it will set off its own excellences or gratify its spite. The sins of others are rather the grief of a charitable spirit than its sport or delight; they will touch it to the quick, and stir all its compassion, but give it no entertainment. It is the very height of malice to take pleasure in the misery of a fellow-creature. And is not falling into sin the greatest calamity that can befall one? How inconsistent is it with Christian charity, to rejoice at such fall! 2. Affirmatively: It rejoiceth in the truth, is glad of the success of the gospel, commonly called the truth, by way of emphasis, in the New Testament; and rejoices to see men moulded into an evangelical temper by it, and made good. It takes no pleasure in their sins, but is highly delighted to see them do well, to approve themselves men of probity and integrity. It gives it much satisfaction to see truth and justice prevail among men, innocency cleared, and mutual faith and trust established, and to see piety and true religion flourish.
X. It beareth all things, it endureth all things, panta stegei, panta hupomenei. Some read the first, covers all things. So the original also signifies. Charity will cover a multitude of sins, 1Pe_4:8. It will draw a veil over them, as far as it can consistently with duty. It is not for blazing nor publishing the faults of a brother, till duty manifestly demands it. Necessity only can extort this from the charitable mind. Though such a man be free to tell his brother his faults in private, he is very unwilling to expose him by making them public. Thus we do by our own faults, and thus charity would teach us to do by the faults of others; not publish them to their shame and reproach, but cover them from public notice as long as we can, and be faithful to God and to others. Or, it beareth all things, - will pass by and put up with injuries, without indulging anger or cherishing revenge, will be patient upon provocation, and long patient, panta hupomenei - holds firm, though it be much shocked, and borne hard upon; sustains all manner of injury and ill usage, and bears up under it, such as curses, contumacies, slanders, prison, exile, bonds, torments, and death itself, for the sake of the injurious, and of others; and perseveres in this firmness. Note, What a fortitude and firmness fervent love will give the mind! What cannot a lover endure for the beloved and for his sake! How many slights and injuries will he put up with! How many hazards will he run and how many difficulties encounter!
XI. Charity believes and hopes well of others: Believeth all things; hopeth all things. Indeed charity does by no means destroy prudence, and, out of mere simplicity and silliness, believe every word, Pro_14:15. Wisdom may dwell with love, and charity be cautious. But it is apt to believe well of all, to entertain a good opinion of them when there is no appearance to the contrary; nay, to believe well when there may be some dark appearances, if the evidence of ill be not clear. All charity is full of candour, apt to make the best of every thing, and put on it the best face and appearance? it will judge well, and believe well, as far as it can with any reason, and will rather stretch its faith beyond appearances for the support of a kind opinion; but it will go into a bad one with the upmost reluctance, and fence against it as much as it fairly and honestly can. And when, in spite of inclination, it cannot believe well of others, it will yet hope well, and continue to hope as long as there is any ground for it. It will not presently conclude a case desperate, but wishes the amendment of the worst of men, and is very apt to hope for what it wishes. How well-natured and amiable a thing is Christian charity? How lovely a mind is that which is tinctured throughout with such benevolence, and has it diffused over its whole frame! Happy the man who has this heavenly fire glowing in his heart, flowing out of his mouth, and diffusing its warmth over all with whom he has to do! How lovely a thing would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more actuated and animated by this divine principle, and paid a due regard to a command on which its blessed author laid a chief stress! A new commandment give I to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another, Joh_13:34. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, Joh_13:35. Blessed Jesus! how few of thy professed disciples are to be distinguished and marked out by this characteristic!
Signing off
Tyrone
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