The Trinidad Presbyterian | September 2020 - Magazine - Page 1
THE LATE REVEREND EVERSON T. SIEUNARINE
W
hen a judge or
magistrate passes
judgement on
a person found
guilty, a comment that is often
made is “I hope this will teach
you a lesson”. We all hope so,
for punishment should lead to
contrition and improvement of
character. Unfortunately, the lesson
is not always learnt, and we see
many repeat offenders and those
who have found new ways to
commit crimes.
We must not presume that because
good advice is offered, religious
rites are practices or serious
warnings are delivered, human
nature will be changed for the
better. In this letter, the apostle
James tells the congregation not to
fool themselves; they must not only
listen to God’s Word but must obey
it, or it will be “like glancing at your
face in a mirror. You see yourself,
walk away, and forget what you
look like.” (James 1:22-24) It is far
easier to look at other people and
point out their spots and blemishes.
How many of us know religious
leaders who boldly and regularly
remind their people of the virtues
of self-denial and sincerity in
daily living, while accumulating
for themselves wealth and public
praise with little thought of charity
and sacrificial service! How many of
us know national leaders who are
always summoning their people to
fairness, justice and accountability
while disregarding these essential
qualities in their personal career!
We are not to presume that it is
always easy to practice what we
preach and advocate as the right
and good thing to do.
of the heart even when the hands
are stretched out in charity or
uplifted in prayer. He knew Peter
would fail when the real test
came. So, when Jesus was being
questioned by the High Priest,
some persons recognized Peter in
the courtyard as a companion of
Jesus. But Peter strongly denied
the accusation. “I swear that I am
telling you the truth. May God
punish me if I am not. I do not know
that man.” (Matthew 26:74)
Simon Peter, the “rock” among
Jesus’ disciples, was confident
he would never forsake Jesus
Do not presume we will stand
up for the truth when the day of
reckoning comes, or we will tell
the truth when it is not financially
advantageous or not very safe. We
even if all the others did. When
Jesus spoke about the impending
crucifixion, Peter rebuked him “God
forbid it, Lord. That must never
happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22)
But Jesus rebuked him in turn “Get
away from me Satan. Your thoughts
do not come from God but from
human nature.
must recognise we are all prone to
evil and slothful in good. An honest
look in the mirror will send us to
do more confessing and repenting
than judging and boasting. As
the Reformer Martin Luther said,
“A Christian is never in a state
of completion but always in the
process of becoming.”
(Matthew 16:23) Jesus knew human
nature. He knew the real characters
under the masks of piety and
sanctity. He knew the motivations
(reprinted with permission)
THE TRINIDAD PRESBYTERIAN | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.pctt.org.tt
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