SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION

Matthew 15:8-9
[8]This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
[9]But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

OBSERVATION!

I receive a minimum of three plus appeals for money each day. If I complied and sent them money, I would surely walk as a hypocrite.

I recognize these appeals on a spiritual level. I see them as one of Satan’s three temptations that He offered Yeshua calling for our Lord to bow his knee to him.

Matthew 4:9-10
[9]And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
[10]Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Additions to God’s laws reflect upon his wisdom, as if he had left out something which was needed and which man could supply; in one way or other, this rationale always leads men to disobey God.

How thankful we should be for the written word of God! Never let us think that the teachings of the Bible can be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice.

Romans 1:22-23
[22]Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
[23]And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Is this why so many have so little faith in God’s ability to complete his promises.

Is it naivety that causes them to add to God’s commandments their supposed worldly commandments in support of their rationalizing and justifying of their believed self righteousness. Thus opening a way of capturing those walking within a similar naivety into hypocrisy through the marketing and manipulation of their emotions by subtleties applying guilt and stirring man’s compassion.

COMMENTARY!

If we presume upon our own strength and tempt the devil to tempt us, we provoke God to leave us to ourselves. Others are tempted, when drawn aside of their own lust, and enticed, James 1:14; but our Lord Jesus had no corrupt nature.

Therefore, he was tempted only by the devil. In the temptation of Christ, it appears that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring; but he can be resisted.

It is a comfort to us that Christ suffered, being tempted; for thus, it appears that our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins. They are afflictions only.

OBSERVATION!

Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it.

When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare. We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it.

Romans 5:3 KJV
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit and in managing his affairs? Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly!

COMMENTARY!

Here are means for maintaining and keeping up religion in our hearts and houses

1. Meditation. God’s words must be laid up in our hearts, that our thoughts may be daily employed about them

2. The religious education of children. Often, repeat these things to them. Be careful and exact in teaching thy children. Teach these truths to all who are any way under thy care

3. Pious discourse. Thou shalt talk of these things with due reverence and seriousness, for the benefit not only of thy children, but of thy servants, thy friends and companions. Take all occasions to discourse with those about thee, not of matters of doubtful disputation, but of the plain truths and laws of God, and the things that belong to our peace

4. Frequent reading of the word. God appointed them to write sentences of the law upon their walls and in scrolls of parchment to be worn about their wrists. This seems to have been binding in the letter of it to the Jews, as it is to us in the intent of it; which is, that we should by all means make the word of God familiar to us; that we may have it ready to use upon all occasions, to restrain us from sin, and direct us in duty. We must never be ashamed to own our religion, nor to own ourselves under its check and government.

CLOSING OBSERVATION!

Here is a caution not to forget God in a day of prosperity and plenty. When the blessings came easily by the gift, they would be apt to grow secure and unmindful of the Giver. Therefore be careful, when thou liest safe and soft, lest thou forget the Lord.

When the world smiles, we are apt to make court to it and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him, who is our only portion and rest.

Robert a humble obedient servant to Yeshua and his Father in heaven Yahewa. And all of God’s children say Amen and Amen.