Thought for Today: Our spiritual; Morality

            In a booklet written by Benjamin Franklin, published in 1992 by Birch Brook Press, the thoughts are on; “how to attain Moral perfection.” As you read his book, you come to find that he believed it was necessary to have all our thoughts under control in order to maintain an upright character. Mr. Franklin demonstrated this with an example of the then new device, “The Printing Press,” he went on to say that in order for the press to operate correctly, all the parts had to be placed in or contained by a strict order and could not be of a “Loose” configuration. I.E. the printing press of the day had to be tightly held together with pieces of wood bound together so that no word or letter could be lost, lest the whole printing plate would crumble into a thousand separate pieces. This, I believe are the same thoughts Peter had for the Christians of the first century, the difference is that Peter gives the very basic ideas of how to attain that perfection, it is then up to each of us to put into practice these tenets of a godly life. As Peter started his treatise on how to attain to this perfection, he said “Knowledge” was key to this perfection. “Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord… seeing that His divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that called us by His own glory and virtue… whereby He hath granted unto us His precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust… Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge.” (2Pet. 1:2-5) Peter starts with the very fundamental idea and basis of Christianity, “Faith” and then adds to it, “Virtue” on an ever ascending scale in the next few verses to the finality of “Love.” It is of note that Mr. Franklin broke Virtue or Morality into thirteen parts, where the Apostle Peter used eight fundamental thoughts to convey the whole of how a Christian is to become a complete spiritual man. Peter said in vs: 3 that Jesus called us by “His own Virtue.” In order to judge Mr. Franklin’s ideas, let me enumerate for you his thirteen divisions on “Virtue, or Morality”. (1. Temperance, eat nor drink to elevation. (2. Silence, Speak not but that it may benefit others, avoid trifling conversation. (3. Order, Let all things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. (4. Resolution, Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. (5. Frugality, Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, waste nothing. (6. Industry, Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. (7. Sincerity, Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly. (8. Justice, Wrong none by doing injuries; or omitting the benefits that are your duty. (9. Moderation, Avoid extremes, forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. (10. Cleanliness, Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation. (11. Tranquility, Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. (12. Chastity, Avoid fornication, never give in to temptation, never allow your emotions to control you at the expense of your or another’s reputation. (13. Humility, Imitate, Jesus and Socrates. “Imitate Jesus” what could be more virtuous or moral than to follow the path and life of our Lord Jesus Christ? “For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1Pet. 2:21) When we look back at the words of Peter in his second epistle, we can understand that moral perfection as well as all the other attributes listed is only gained through the knowledge of God and knowledge of His words of Life. In Hannah’s prayer in the book of first Samuel, we have these words offered by her, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogance come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” (1Sam 2: 3) Since God is a God of knowledge, then the same must be true for us, that is, we must gain knowledge to know God and the only way we can know what our God wants of us is to know the mind of God, or put a little differently we can know God because of His Son, for Jesus said if you have seen me you have seen God, if you believe me then you also believe God, if you have heard Me then you have heard God. (Jn. 14:7-11) Jesus also said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15) And since Jesus didn’t say or do anything that did not come from The Father, Jesus commands are The Father’s commands. Paul would state this to the Corinthians in a like manner, “If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.” (1Cor. 14:37) “A prophet, or, spiritually minded.” A spiritually minded individual is a person of high moral character, a virtuous person. Remember the words of Peter, “For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pet. 1:8) Let us be reminded that every virtue that Mr. Franklin wrote and every virtue Peter wrote were to be a work in progress, as we continually walk towards heaven… DC