Trey Knowles: Risala 25 - Fire & Purification cover art

Trey Knowles: Risala 25 - Fire & Purification

Trey Knowles: Risala 25 - Fire & Purification

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 Trey Knowles: Risala 25 - Fire & Purification A false witness will perish, but one who listens carefully will speak with truth and endure. Distinguish yourself from the wicked, even from those whom society calls “privileged.” The power behind the work of the wicked is rooted in corruption. Though they appear industrious, their labor is often unjust and cruel—built upon exploitation. They seize land, extract wealth through gold, oil, and other resources, and accumulate fortunes not through honest wages but through systems that oppress the vulnerable. They enslave the poor in various forms, yet accuse others of laziness. They pass down the benefits of wrongdoing to their families, shaping stolen gain into legitimate-looking enterprises. What was taken unjustly becomes normalized, and their households prosper from what is, in essence, dishonesty. In this way, the so-called “privilege” of the wicked is often constructed on foundations that lack integrity. Yet such wealth is empty. It is wealth that appears to come from something, but is rooted in nothing of lasting value. For this reason, our Lord teaches not to store up treasures on earth, where they are temporary, subject to decay, and vulnerable to loss. Instead, we are called to focus on the kingdom of heaven—to cultivate what is within. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. A man is the head of his household; yet when his queen turns her devotion toward other idols, she degrades herself in pursuit of her desires. This is why it is said, “My mother, who was my mother, was a prostitute.” She has birthed sin into the world with her price. As it is written in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” A wise person examines themselves carefully, ensuring they are not disqualified, so that they may be set apart from the wicked. Therefore, distinguish yourself from the wicked. Those who abuse their wives act as colonizers who plunder what is precious; their hearts are hardened and filled with hatred. The speech of the wicked is used to mislead, manipulate, and conceal harmful intentions. The wicked are marked by pride and arrogance, yet the only harvest they produce is sin. There is no reverence for God before their eyes, and their hearts are of little worth. Yet the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. A person who is not content can easily become jealous, and with jealousy comes strife. Evil people want to do wrong, even to their friends; revenge is always on their minds. If your heart is wicked, why not replace it? If your eye is full of darkness, how great is that darkness? All crooks are liars. A person who is devoted to spiritual idolatry commits robbery against their own soul and is willing to kill for what they are devoted to. A person who drinks alcohol hates their spirit and forgets their need for the Spirit of God. A person who smokes violates their own body and its proper function. A drug addict loses everything. The wicked delight in destruction; when a weapon is within reach, they are swift to use it. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a temper shows a lack of sense and is often in error. Those who reject wisdom are not wise. They face severe personal, spiritual, and long-term consequences. A wicked employer oppresses the hired worker by withholding wages, while improving his own life through those wages. Better is a poor person who walks in integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Cheating to get rich is a foolish dream and no less than suicide. You destroy yourself by being cruel, violent, and unwilling to live right. An ignorant fool learns by seeing others punished; a sensible person learns by being instructed. When justice is done, good citizens are glad, and crooks are terrified. If you stop using good sense, you will find yourself in the grave. God's people will escape, but all who are wicked will pay the price. For I tell you, whoever pursues righteousness and love will find life, prosperity, and honor. Fathers are not to provoke their children to anger, but to raise them with discipline and instruction in the Lord. Fathers teach your children right from wrong. Foolishness is deeply rooted in a child's heart, but consistent discipline will remove it. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever rejects correction lacks understanding. A person is transformed when they truly love, rather than waiting to be changed by circumstance. Faith without works is ineffective. Therefore, abstain from every form of evil. Whoever trusts in their own understanding alone is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom ...
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