The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

kjv@Matthew:5:33 @ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths;

kjv@Matthew:5:35 @ Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

kjv@Matthew:5:36 @ Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

kjv@Matthew:5:37 @ But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

swearing by something presumed greater than oneself to convey the earnestness of an oath
disguising that which is out of ones control/guaranteeing against the unforeseen behind that which is not ours to commit.
bearing witness or testimony where the facts of a matter must be judiciously determined.

said to be of old
despite the good intentions of our earnestness the ill deceit of all men precedes us
in the context of a body of believers being persecuted and suffering for righteousness sake a commitment promised to be fulfilled is sometimes all that is stands between unity and destruction.

What does this say about our present condition?

Men look for and expect guaranties where really no guaranty can be issued. The more impossible the situation the more they seek an oath sworn to a greater power.
Men look to take advantage at every point that they can. Getting one to swear to the terms and conditions or vouching for character/ability of another, then pulling the rug from under those conditions leaving the one liable to a third party is one of the oldest tricks in the book.
The church is seen as easy prey, especially individual members acting on their own outside of the cover of the body; it is expected that they will do whatever is presented as the "right thing to do". The trouble is what is presented as the "right thing" or "compassionate thing" to do. It may not be the right thing (or right thing right mechanism) as the body would see it; or Christ. An oath is sought, an oath is extracted, an oath is held to even as the deal obviously turns sour. If the oath is then broken by the Christian, the individual is made to feel overly guilty for it. Often the body is portrayed as having broken it's oath so as to entice the individual into taking matters into his/her own hands.

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