TISHRI 26
On Some Virtue
“In conclusion … FOCUS
your thoughts … on some VIRTUE …” (Phi 4:8 CJB, emphasis mine)
I
believe it is safe to say that we can all remember, as young children, hearing
the phrase, “patience is a virtue”. In
actual fact, patience is a virtue: the
dictionary defines “virtue” as “general moral excellence; right action and
thinking; goodness or morality; a specific
moral quality regarded as good or deserving praise”[1]. We could further interpret this as saying the
Fruit of Elohim’s Spirit, as found and described in the Book of Galatians 5:22-23 , are virtues worth cultivating.
“The path of the
virtuous LEADS AWAY from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.” (Pro 16:17 NLT ,
emphasis mine)
Our
world today has very little in it to show as an example of what is of “moral
excellence”. It is up to us, as disciples
of Messiah Yeshua, to stand up and develop the attitude of no compromise, beginning in our thought life, and carrying through
into our speech and actions. I will be
the first to admit that it is not always easy; but every thought must be held up to the standard of the Word of Elohim. We must take every thought into captivity, put it under the microscope in our
mind, examine it, and if it does not measure up, get rid of it (2Cor 10:5). Only by consistently practicing this
principle will we win the war over our thought life.
“And for this
reason do your utmost to add to your belief uprightness, to uprightness
knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control endurance, to endurance
reverence, to reverence brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection love.
FOR IF THESE ARE IN YOU AND INCREASE, THEY CAUSE YOU TO BE NEITHER INACTIVE NOR
WITHOUT FRUIT IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR MASTER יהושע MESSIAH.” (2Pey 1:5-8 ISR, emphasis mine)
“FOCUS YOUR MINDS on
the things above, not on things here on earth … Therefore, as God's chosen
people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion
and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col 3:2,12 CJB, emphasis mine)
©2018
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