9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
This was the Bible quote of the day from Heartlight . I liked it. So what does it mean?
Some research yielded this:
Without dissimulation to be without deception or deceit; don’t be like Judas to Christ, or Joab to Abner: a kiss and a sta. Instead be pure in heart. Truly love your fellow manf or by doing so, you will abhor evil, and that takes you one step closer to God. As for the ten steps I am not sure where I found them, but I am glad I kept it.
1 Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
The spirit of true brotherhood
2 Be not slothful in business but fervent always serving the Lord;
The idea here is, that we are to “Be diligent and hardworking. ” We shouldn’t be looking to palm off our work to someone else but do it ourselves. Fervent in spirit. This suggests that we are to be zealous, enthusiastic and impassioned in our love of carrying out His word. We should not be indifferent and blaise.
3 Be rejoiceful i hope; patient in tribulation and continue in prayer;
Rejoicing in hope. Hopeful, and hence rejoicing in the prospect. Patient in tribulation. Patient in sorrow, suffering and persecution. Patience implies steadfastness.(Luke 18:1) and steadfastness is loyalty to those you have given your bond (word), including your employer.
4 Be hospitable and distribute necessity to all that ask in the spirit of the saints.
Distributing. Making the needs of fellow saints your own and helping them. Given to hospitality to those who ask your help. Don’t second guess their motive, or care whether they are thankful. Be happy that they asked and you can give.
5 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
See Matt. 5:44. As did Christ on the cross, and the martyred Stephen. He who can obey this precept is a transformed man.
6 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Do not seek out social distinction. Obedience to this would eliminate caste from the church among other things as well as public office. Instead of seeking pre-eminence, we are to walk in lowly spirit like our Savior. Be not wise in your own conceits. Conceited, elitist and opinionated is the result of not condescending to the lowliest but thinking you are better than them — always reprehensible.
7 Recompense no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Makes sense.
08 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
If you can do so. Sometimes it is impossible, like living next door to John & Ginny in Staten Island. He was a horrible man. He lief and stole and I tried to ignore it and be nice. That made he angrier so he lied more, smeared my family with horrible lies and finally tried to cut down our tree because it was “littering” his driveway. So we went out on a nice Spring Sunday and argued with him to stop and he hit us.
So obviously, nothing really worked and in the end we sold and left the area. I guess that was the best thing that came out of the thing — we gotta out of New York City. Something can be said for that but still, it was a lot of aggravation when I was ill and in retrospect, while I did not see it then, I can say now that it helped with me being ill.
Remember the Beatitudes, blest are the “peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9) which Jesus obviously wants us to be; but lemme tell you it ain’t easy and I rarely see that that sinners feel a bit of sorrow for their dastardly deed until many years laters and then they don’t know what hit them. As John, he won $100.000 on a game show a year after we left…still wondering about that one.
09 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
If we are injured, we are to leave the matter in the hands of God and give place unto his wrath.He sees and resents the injuries of his children.Deut. 32:35. The Lord claims it as his prerogative to avenge what needs to be avenged. When we do it, we trample on the divine rights.
That’s pretty good and very clear. I like that one as revenge isn’t my cup of tea anyways but now if you are speaking about my SO, Ah that’s another kettle of fish
10 Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This sums up the whole matter respecting the treatment of adversaries. and I think that is absolutely true — judge a man by what he does not by what he says and that you can take to the bank.
In my anguish... 