My thoughts,…

I’ve had the blessing of walking in Christ since June 26th, 2011, beating my breast and begging “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Lk. 18:13). In my past life I had a violent mind, as leader of my district for crime we organized, living in a violent world filled with excess and chaos, lawlessness. We Gentiles need long suffering, for our scars run deep and it takes many years to remove all delinquencies from our behaviours. Throughout the decade I’ve struggled with unrighteous anger, outburst, intimidation, foul language, bitterness, regrets, and substance addiction. These things run deep in the flesh and for some of us take decades to fully recover. To navigate through much trauma is a challenging endeavour. Yet I’ve always been transparent with this, making myself vulnerable, and repenting when guilty. My enemies taking advantage of my weaknesses for their own selfish ambitions, no doubt. I pray for them. But God has humbled me throughout the years and has brought growth to my life in His name. I love my Lord Jesus Christ and want everyone to know about Him, for He saves us from the pit of death. There are some who have a similar account as mine, and I understand them.

However, some brethren are not genuine, some conceal their true motives. These are brethren who live for conflict, they are argumentative, always seeking confrontation. These militant kinds stir up strife, and not for doctrinal reasons, but for mere self interest, feeding their divisive heart. They will outwardly speak to you of integrity, yet inwardly they have none. They will speak outwardly of humbleness, yet inwardly haughtiness is their citizenry. The Proverbs are replete with wisdom revealing these quarrelsome busybodies, liars and hypocrites. We must not lack discernment and think these kinds “righteous” (2 Cor. 11:15). These are not the attributes of the faithful, but of evil workers behind pulpits they’ve snared.

Dear brethren, have no fellowship with corruption, learn to discern. May we eagerly seek to behave as the attitudes our Lord spoke on the mountain, as He sat down and opened His mouth,… “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” (Mt. 5:1-12). These are the blessings which helped me bear fruits of repentance throughout the years. I do pray God can still use me for many more. What else is life about, if not our heavenly purpose to please God? Every other pursuit in life is vain, “seek ye first" (Mt. 6:33).

May His grace give us opportunity to work in His kingdom this day.

Your servant,
SM