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(Ws.12:13,16-19;\xa0\xa0 Ps.86:5-6,9-10,15-16;\xa0\xa0 Rom.8:26-27;\xa0\xa0 Mt.13:24-43) \xa0 \u201cFirst collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.\u201d \xa0 Such are the Lord\u2019s instructions to the harvesters, His angels that come \u201cat the end of the age,\u201d when \u201cjust as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,\u201d so will \u201call who cause others to sin and all evildoers\u201d be thrown \u201cinto the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.\xa0 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.\u201d \u201cWhoever has ears ought to hear.\u201d\xa0 Though the Lord is a God \u201cmerciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity\u201d; though He is \u201cgood and forgiving\u2026 attend[ing] to the sound of [our] pleading\u201d and \u201cpermit[ting] repentance for our sins\u201d \u2013 though while the grass grows He is patient and waits for the weeds which have been sown to turn to Him, yet the time of harvest shall come: the time to judge the living and the dead.\xa0 And so it is that the One who is \u201clenient toward all\u201d shall reveal to all that indeed He does \u201cshow [His] might when the perfection of [His] power is disbelieved.\u201d\xa0 The obstinate of heart shall not remain forever; sin must be burnt with fire, and so those who cling to it and its sower, the evil one. There is time.\xa0 There is time and He who has \u201cthe cure of all\u201d reveals indeed that \u201cthe just must be kind.\u201d\xa0 But the end presses on; it is upon us.\xa0 And the time and lenience granted those who toil vainly for the evil one will but serve to prove their deserving of the Lord\u2019s inevitable justice.\xa0 They will but harden themselves further, to their own perfection of sin, meriting in the end the undeniable punishment of the loving and just One. And the same is true of the just themselves.\xa0 The time given by our gracious God, though it seem troublesome for the weeds of sin that prick our hearts, is but a means of proving, is but a refinement of the perfection of our God\u2019s love within us.\xa0 And so we must be patient as the tree does grow, acceptant of the pains it brings.\xa0 And so we must but watch as the leaven rises, and we with it come to Christ.\xa0 Yes, \u201cthe one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit.\u201d\xa0 Take confidence in this.\xa0 Just as the Lord knows the path to perdition the wicked sow within their souls, so He knows clearly the hope we have for heaven.\xa0 And all shall reach their perfection in Him. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Salvation Army" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, in your greatness have mercy on our souls and let us grow unto your kingdom.\xa0 YHWH, you are all good and all powerful, holding all the world in your loving hand; yet though you are kind and desire the repentance of every soul, your justice and love call for the punishment of evil. Your angels shall go out at the end of the age and they shall do your holy will, gathering your just ones into your kingdom but burning with fire those who cause others to sin.\xa0 This is but right, LORD; this is but kindness itself \u2013 that like should go to like and so the desire of hearts be fulfilled.\xa0 Indeed, let those who set their hearts on evil come to evil, and those who set their hearts on you come to good. You are patient, LORD; you give us time that we might grow to the perfection set for our lives.\xa0 No soul is plucked up before his time \u2013 none comes to his end without opportunity to change his life.\xa0 For you are gracious, you are kind, and your power you use for mercy\u2019s sake.\xa0 Let us turn to you this day and find the fire of your Spirit at work in our hearts.