THE FACE OF LOVE CHAPTER 9 FEELING ENTITLED

THE FACE OF LOVE

CHAPTER 9

FEELING ENTITLED

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

As Believers, we must never think of ourselves as victims. To think of yourself as a victim is to condemn yourself, to deny the power of God within and around your life, and to prevent your growth in spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. To think of yourself as a victim is to hang on to negative thoughts and experiences, believing God was not there with you and that He had no plan to turn evil into good.

To think of yourself as a victim is to have condemnation within your heart for others, preventing you from loving them unconditionally. To think of yourself as a victim is to separate yourself from God and cling to the world. To think of yourself as a victim is to place more faith in the workings and doings of the world, than in the love, power, and faithfulness of God. To continually think of yourself as a victim, holding on to those memories that you believe have scarred you for life, is to prevent yourself from being born of the Spirit, dying to yourself daily, and living in the fullness of Christ. How, then, Believer, if you are a victim, can you worship in Spirit and in Truth?

No matter how devastating, horrendous, or, egregious our past or present experiences are, we must not allow them to mold our character, harden our hearts, and fill us with entitlement which is borne of pride.

Feeling victimized is just another way of fighting flesh (people), instead of fighting darkness, demons, and principalities. As we continue to feel victimized, we cannot see that we are fighting a battle against ourselves and losing. Yet, we feel entitled to our feelings, because, we may believe, or, we may know that we have been wronged.

Ephesians 6:12 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

When we continue to feel victimized, we do not forgive, therefore, we cannot be forgiven by God. Hence, we have no true peace, for there is always a festering sore causing infection and irritation. The sore flares up in pain and aggravation, especially when the wounds are reopened by words, memories, situations, or, people we haven't forgiven.

Mark 11:26

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Our feelings of victimization cause us to put up a wall around us. In our minds, we continue to feel entitled to hold onto our feelings, although, the power of God can give us an escape into freedom from our feelings, if we choose to accept. Nevertheless, we feel entitled to this wall, because, we don't want to be hurt again, or perhaps, it is our way of fighting back, or, being vindictive. We feel entitled to select those whom we will allow beyond our wall into our lives or into our hearts. We're very careful with whom we share any information about our feelings and find a way to shut down or hide. Vindictively, we show others that coming into our lives is a privilege to which only a few are entitled. We may try to become someone else, or, recreate ourselves believing we will enhance our lives, as the world defines this process. However, one cannot recreate oneself, one can only live more abundantly. Only God can recreate, giving us a new mind, by being born of the Spirit. We know that the enemy is a counterfeiter who gives us terminology to make us believe that we don't need God to be who and what we want to be. The feeling of entitlement gives us permission to believe we can recreate ourselves, but, this is the ideology of the world.

When we continue to hold on to our flesh (self) we feel entitled to live our lives as we please, as long as it gives us what we want. The adversary is always mimicking God to mislead us. In recreating ourselves, we are mimicking the world, which is at enmity with God. Sometimes, as Believers, we go along with what the world says, until the moment we encounter darkness, then, we return to seeking God. This follows the rules of engagement in living as a victim and feeling entitled. Our heart says, "I'm still in pain, but, I don't want to let go of my pain until I can replace it with something I am entitled to." We must make a choice, restoration from God, or, cling to the self-righteousness and  self-interests of the flesh and the world. In clinging to our pain, we have chosen the flesh and the world.

God gave us feelings, deep feelings, but, at the same time, He intended for us to be Overcomers. He intended for us to overcome our feelings, so, that we would not suffer, or inflict our pain upon others. Pain is a feeling that affects people in innumerable ways, because, pain can afflict us mentally, physically, spiritually, and combinations thereof. The worse pain is that which deafens our ears and hardens our heart, so that we are unable to hear God, obey the Word of God, and become healed. Feeling entitled and victimized, therefore, works against us.

Why do we hang on to pain, anger, bitterness, resentment, prejudice, and other negative feelings? Our pride tells us that we are entitled to be treated better, have better, and be better. Of course better is relative to our own thinking and believing. We decide what better should have or could have been.

We may have felt victimized as children, from our parents, family, teachers, or other children. We may feel victimized because of our race, religion, faith, ethnicity, nationality, gender, socio-economic status, criminal background, or, a crime that was committed against us. We may cling to an idea of what should or should not have happened. We may attribute past experiences to having damaged us and having led to our insecurities and character flaws. But, where is God in this thinking? Where is the fruitfulness of this thinking? Can this type of thinking produce good fruit? Is this type of thinking borne of the Mind of Christ?

Let's say that, you no longer want to associate with a particular co-worker, teammate, classmate, friend, family member, or, parent. Or, maybe you avoid talking to that person about things that remind you of your pain, because you hold them responsible. On the other hand, maybe you don't hold back your tongue, because, you feel entitled to vengeance. Either way, your actions prove that you don't want things to get better. You want to be a victim. You want to prove that you are right. You are manipulating pain, falsely believing that you gain something. -But, you're losing and will continue to lose. Setting false boundaries, from a hardened heart is only keeping yourself prisoner. Where is God in all of this? Is He behind the wall with you? Is God being vindictive with you, cheering you on?  Is this the character of God? You cannot hold onto ill feelings and things of the world and walk in the Light of God. There is power in the Light and you have given your power over to another, the adversary.

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Children can be prideful, but, children must be held accountable for their behavior. As children, it was easy for us to blame others for things that happened in our lives, but, now that we are adults, we must take responsibility for, not only our actions, but, that which spurred our behavior, our feelings.  We are accountable for our own feelings.

As a baby, we came into this world thinking only about what we needed to survive. We couldn't even verbalize our needs. Over time, as we were exposed to language, people, and the world, hopefully, our selfish feelings changed, but, for many, it's possible that they only expanded. Parents can identify certain behaviors in their child, however, they cannot always assess the cause of those behaviors. As a result, they may err in their correction or treatment of the child. Why is this? Is every parent ignorant, negligent, abusive? Are parents not to be blamed because they weren't given a manual on how to treat each child? Let's put this in the proper perspective. God made parents and God made children. Is God setting parents and children up, hoping or expecting us to fail? Is God expecting us to know things that we couldn't possibly know, since, He hasn't given us the ability to hear the thoughts of others? It seems to be very simple for the animal world. God gave animals natural instincts to follow. For animal babies in the world, it is the survival of the fittest. For man, God had a different idea and plan, which didn't involve manuals for each individual child.

We know that Adam and Eve sinned and were driven from the Garden of Eden. They made a home together. Adam and Eve became parents with no manual on how to raise two sons who were very different. One of those children, Cain, became a murderer. Do we blame Adam and Eve's parenting for the choice that Cain made?

Our perspective and expectations as a child are based upon the mind of a child, a mind that is undeveloped because it lacks knowledge and experience. However, it goes much deeper than that. A child may not have a sense of who they are and who God is. They cannot understand their own behavior, let alone understand the behavior of adults. Their minds are open to ideas and suggestions from all around them. We should not rely on our childhood perceptions to guide us as an adult, if we want to live accountable lives. Childish thinking can lead to scapegoating, looking for someone else to blame as an excuse to avoid accountability. Scapegoating may be a way to keep people out of our lives and out of our business, because, we are clinging to the world, clinging to sin, and we don't want to change.

As a child, because of our pride, we can be left with the wrong perception of others and ourselves, hindering and corrupting our future perspectives and expectations. It may cause us to constantly be on our guard to prevent being hurt. We may try to compensate for our lack of security in countless ways. What we must know is that we are not alone in the way that we have developed. No other parent on the planet had a manual for their child. But, what we must be careful of is to not play the blame game with the adversary, who only wants to divide, separating us from God and our family. That is why God tells us that we must put away childish thinking and overcome our feelings.

Parents and children alike were put here on Earth to learn how to take care of one another and God's Kingdom. Having no manual to do either one of these things, means that parents and children alike must learn to make choices. God is hoping that those choices, good or bad, will bring us closer to Him. Think about these things the next time you want to criticize or judge a parent or a child. What ever the circumstances, God is in control.

Many claim to be adults, because, the world tells us that at a certain age we are considered to be an adult. However, this age differs throughout various cultures, races, ethnicities, genders, nations, and given responsibilities.  Pride, perspective, and expectations tell us that being an adult entitles us to certain privileges and to be treated a certain way, even by our parents and God. No? Don't we expect God to tolerate our behavior and sin, to show mercy and forgiveness, and expect the same from our parents? Or, do we take it for granted that this is what God and our parents are supposed to do? Do we even think about how God and our parents feel when we are being disobedient, or, do we just continue to do as we please? Meanwhile, we can be negligent to reciprocate respect, obedience, compassion, tolerance, and love, because we hold onto entitlement and want to remain the victim. Somehow, it makes us feel that we are the better person. Within our pride we are blinded in ignorance, unable to see Truth and unable to see The Light. In those moments, having hardened our heart, we have condemned ourselves to be unteachable and unreachable. We fail to be able to see that even in our adversity, God was blessing us and preparing us for a brighter day. We fail to count it all as joy, because, we have chosen to take the path that seems easier and requires no accountability from us. Therefore, we choose to play the blame game, in order to play the victim and be seen as the better person.

Let's say that you left your job because you felt that your boss and co-workers didn't treat you right. Perhaps, they showed you no respect and didn't appreciate your work.  Let's say that you won't go back to a certain place of worship because they didn't make you feel welcome. -But, where is God in your thinking? Where is God in your feeling? Have you separated yourself from God by your unwillingness to humble yourself? Are you thinking only of yourself? Are you believing that you are better than others? Where is God in your BELIEVING? You may feel entitled to better, but, you've allowed the enemy to steal any prospect of things improving and perhaps, allowed the enemy to steal your growth and everything from that relationship or situation.

Unconditional love is the perfection, the better, that can tear down walls, heal hearts, build bridges, and establish peace (Jesus) within us. We must see through God's eyes. Unconditional love is our bridge to abundant life, better relationships, and a better us. That doesn't mean we are satisfied with just telling people that we love them, believing that to be the cure-all, or remedy for all ailments and wrongs. To be perfect in love is to manifest (show) love which contains all of the Fruit of God's Holy Spirit. and manifest them in thought, word and deed. However, we must remember that our Father's love for us compels Him to correct us, and not only to provide and heal. In turn, we as parents should love our children enough to correct them, no matter how old they are. We should care about their soul and eternal life as we do for others.

To those with a prideful and an ill heart, the medicine of correction leaves a bitter taste that grows with them into adulthood. Their growth has been stunted by pride. Their pride leads them to continue to think as a child and they fail to see that their own heart is contributing to their problems. It is often in correction that some become confused by the love of others and God.

When we take our eyes off of Jesus, no longer following His mind, it only takes the brevity of that moment to begin to sink into despair. Then, once again, we are the victim crying out to Jesus to save us, not acknowledging our own accountability. We wonder, if God loves us, why does He let us continue to sink? Why doesn't He come and save us when we want Him too?  If God loves us unconditionally, why does He allow us to have feelings of fear, doubt, and despair? Could it be that God knows the future and how long it's going to take you to reach the bottom? Could it be that in that timespan He's waiting for you to make the right choice and open your eyes to Truth?

When we are born into this world, we cannot choose who we feel would be the best parents for us. Nor, can a parent know that they have the best child. To desire either of these things is to act out of pride and not unconditional love. Why should one child be loved more than another? Does this make sense to you now? God wants parents and children to accept one another out of unconditional love.

One of the hardest things for a person to do is to come to terms with a parent or parents who did not give them what they felt entitled to. Still, God is telling us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He's telling us to honor our mother and father. Then, Jesus comes along and says who is my mother or brother, explaining that those who do the will of God are His family. Looking at this we must put it in the proper perspective. Is God now telling us that a wayward parent is not to be honored if they do not do the will of God? Can we now say that we don't have to accept that wayward parent as our parent?

Jesus was expanding upon the words mother, father, sister, brother, and the family as a whole, to show us that we are all expected to be a family by obeying the Word of God. Ones circumstances does not rule out unconditional love. If one holds contempt in their heart for a mother or father, they are excluding themselves from the family, because, their ill feelings are not the will of God. To honor someone whom you feel has wronged you as a child has more to do with preserving you than memorializing or condoning the parent's behavior. Looking beyond their faults, we must see the value of a human being and then a parent whom God has used to bring us into the world. Looking to their needs, we must see our value as a servant of God and the power and glory of forgiveness. Therefore, we can honor our mother and father, no matter what the circumstances were in our childhood we should offer them respect and honor them by living in obedience to holiness and righteousness, even more so, when living in holiness and righteousness is contrary to the way that our parents have lived.  Our parents are forever a part of us. We can try to remove them from our hearts, but, to remove them from our lives completely, we would have to no longer exists for we are of their flesh and bones. We have inherited their DNA. Part of them exists within us.

Although, we may or may not like our place of employment or schooling, we cannot perfectly match every person to a job or school. -But, God has matched the parent to the child. God doesn't make mistakes. A child is not a mistake. Circumstances surrounding the child may be in error. That error doesn't amount to failure or hopelessness and it doesn't define the child. What a person gains from their circumstances and experiences depends largely upon the perspective they have chosen. Often, what we see as loss is gain in the eyes of God, because He is looking at our heart and preparing us for His Kingdom.

We must always look at beginnings to explain the past, present, and future. We must look past how something happened and begin to look at why it happened and why God allowed it to happen. This removes the finger pointing at individuals, to focus upon the root of the problem. We may say that we don't want to live in the past, but, the moment we are confronted with adversity, we might begin living in the past, operating and basing our actions upon unpleasant memories and experiences. We fail to see that it's not the memories and experiences that are still causing us problems, but, instead, it's the choice we have made to make them a part of our present and future.

The answer to our questions concerning why God isn't more hands on, giving us manuals on how to treat each person, is that God loves us so, that He gave us free will. He wants us to have the ability to make the right choices in life on our own accord. We are not totally without instruction and help. God's written Word has been handed down to us through His prophets. His Living Word, Christ Jesus can live inside of us. His Word can apply to everyone because of God's Grace and Mercy.

We have a choice to build up fear, resentment, shame, guilt, hatred, etc., or, we can trust God to make us into who He created us to be, regardless of our past, our sins, our race, or parents, our academic achievements, and so on. Making the right choices is part of life, not just to become an adult, for some people are not given that opportunity, but, to live in abundance according to the Word of God.

If you have become an adult, consider it to be a blessing, but, also, consider that you didn't make it happen by yourself. It is upon that premise that you must always stay humble to who and what you are. Our parents contributed to our biological makeup and they and/or others instilled something within us to help us, not only to survive, but, to thrive. Many people, when they reach adulthood, think and act as if they need not look back and acknowledge those whose shoulders they stand upon. Their pride does not allow them to see their elders on whose shoulders they stand as speaking truth to them to raise them even higher. Pride tells them that they are being talked down to as a child, but, they are too puffed up with pride to see that we are all children of God. Worldly thinking and the flesh has interrupted the process of passing the torch to the next runner. Many elderly people possess the fire of God's Holy Spirit which gives us wisdom that cannot be found in the world. Yet, we live in a world where their is discrimination against older people.

Jesus sent His Disciples to minister to children and adults. A parent does not stop ministering to their children. A parent should be a child's first minister. As a parent, God does not see His children becoming an adult as the end of His parenting. Instead, God is leading us to grow into the maturity of Christ. This shows His love for us. His chastisement is a sign of His love for us, and the same goes for our parents.  Why should someone who loves you have to have your consent to speak Truth to you? We must humble ourselves. Being an adult doesn't mean that your heart is right. God let's His enemies become an adult. Is that the end we want, just to become an adult? Or, do we want to live in the maturity of Christ, living  holy and righteously in abundant life? The world cannot give us this information because the world doesn't understand holiness and righteousness.

God gave us elders and parents as a blessing to pass down knowledge and wisdom that the world cannot give us. Still, many Believers would rather put their faith in the knowledge of the world over the knowledge of God. Many prideful and arrogant children and adult children of parents, would rather believe that their parent cannot possibly contribute to their growth, or, tell them what they need to know, so, they turn to a friend or stranger. At times, this is true and a parent should be humble enough to accept this. A parent should remember that God told us not to bring our children to wrath. At times, God needs others to teach and nurture your child. However, pride should not come between us and God's command to honor our mother and father, who may have the knowledge and wisdom to lovingly impart wisdom unto us in order to show us how to think and live holy and righteously. We should allow them to do this for us without criticism and judgement, understanding the love that they have for us. Sadly, not until we too, become older adults, do most of us come to appreciate the value of our parents, parenting, family, lineage, and the tie (faith) which binds us together.

I am reminded that there are Believers upholding and supporting the standards of the world first, before, upholding and supporting the standards of God, believing that it's the only way to live and make it in this world. In other words, we must be double-minded. This is sad and sorrowful indeed to believe this. To believe that we have to go along with the ideas and behavior of the world in order to live and succeed is a type of thinking that tries to disprove everything that we know about God. This is sad indeed because it is evident that they really do not believe God. This proves that the world seeks to destroy us as Believers.

The world has allowed the enemy to use it to corrupt the process of families raising children in holiness and righteousness. Children, upon becoming adults, feel that they have completed the process of maturity and gained complete independence, no longer believing there is a nurturing relationship between parent and child. The world would have us believe that honoring thy mother and father are lost words in the Bible that don't apply to children or adults today. Society has taught children not to obey their parents, but, to live under the laws of man. Most children do not spend their time seeking the wisdom of their elders, but, instead go to the internet or television. Pride and rebellion run rampant, not only in children, but, in adults. The children are usually mimicking what they see adults do. Forgive us, Father.

Covered in pride, we, as children of God, have often, in the absence of grace, thrown it in others faces, that we are adults and want to be treated as so, unable to see that the behaviors we exhibit are unholy and unrighteous. They are only righteous in our own eyes, not God's. We must surrender our will to be free and for our minds to be opened to Truth.

Truth frees us, not recreating ourselves or wanting to be something or somebody else. Truth gives us the freedom to express our pain and love others unconditionally, at the same time. Pride corrupts and hardens our heart, bringing contempt, guilt, shame, condemnation, prejudice, and all manner of harmful feelings that destroy us and others.

None of us wants to be looked at as the whole of our mistakes in life. Our mistakes don't define who we are, who we were meant to be, or, who we can become. Yet, again, when we disagree with others, or, think about how we have been wronged, we see people in the form of their mistakes. Let us not judge and condemn others. Let us move on to holiness and righteousness.

There is a finished work within us that we need only to tap into. Jesus is always interceding on our behalf. God is forever forgiving.

God knows what is in our heart, weighing down heavy upon us, even if we don't verbally or physically reveal it to Him or others. It is within this knowledge that He reveals His great love for us. Most of the time, we don't have to ask for anything, because, He just gives us what we need. Yet, there are times, when we find we must go to Him and ask in order to receive. Although, we may feel that we are entitled to the Kingdom, God is looking at what is in our heart in order to give us what we need.

As He often does, He awoke me very early one morning, because He had explored my heart and planted a seed to grow to remove anything that was unclean and unpleasing to Him. So, when I awoke, He had already placed within my mind the cure to my ailment.

You see, living here on Earth, I sometimes forget and in some instances I am ignorant of the fact that I am not of the world, although, I am still in the world. I am sometimes bothered by others not understanding me, or, knowing who I am, especially, those close to me. I am reminded that the world didn't understand Jesus, The Word of God. I am reminded of who is my mother, brother, sister, etc., it being those who obey the Word of God. I am reminded that I must die to myself and live in Christ daily. However, often, because we are still in the world, something settles in our heart to prevent us from dying daily.

On this particular morning, God not only wanted to give me knowledge and wisdom, but, also, a cure. He placed in my heart, a seed that would not only grow, but, also, that would absorb the pain and become fruitful.

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RELATED SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4 

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

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.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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Psalm 37 King James Version (KJV)

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

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1 John 2 

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.