even if

"Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment." (Pr. 18:1, ESV)

"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his own opinion." (Pr. 18:2, ESV)

"Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys." (Pr 18:9, ESV)

"Before destruction, a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." (Pr. 18:12, ESV)

"To answer before listening - that is folly and shame." (Pr. 18:13, NIV)

"The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?" (Pr. 18:14, NIV)

"A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel." (Pr. 18:19, NIV)

"A man of many companions soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Pr. 18:24, NIV)

I feel like writing a commentary of the Bible today. This is my best (informal) biblical commentary voice.

The beatitudes struck me as immense promises. That those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted because of righteousness will inherit the kingdom of God. For the greater gift, we are to abandon things of this world. That makes it a little easier to consider, but it's still a daunting thing to live out, at least by man's strength.

The laws that Jesus set out in the latter part of this chapter blow me away. I think seeing God wick away my own false self-confidence as of late has my mind blown at the expectations of God. To reconcile so easily, to love enemies, to hate your own body if it causes you to sin, to avoid divorce, to make no oaths and to keep your word. I finished the chapter awed at the impossibility of it all. It can only produce a different response if you have an immense faith in human righteousness. I do not.

As the standard is so high, I am tempted to discount all of it and just live life the way I am. But I don't think the standard is there for a one-shot perfectionist to achieve. It is to remind us that: first, Christ did have this righteousness, and so we can have faith in our eternal justification; second, Christ dwells in us, enabling us to become conformed to Him more day by day; third, this is something to aim for because it is God's standard for people, and we shall live by it even if imperfectly, strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes I wonder why things aren't all going well in my life and in the things around me. There are tangible implications of making God your last priority and putting faith in other things. For me, that's hard thinking and methods and planning for resolving issues with people and trying to change people.

My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands. (2 Chronicles 12:7b-8)

We don't really wake up to what we've been missing or taking for granted until the day it's taken away from us. I'm glad that God wants us to learn.

These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude 1:16)

This one stuck in my heart as I read it. I would have lost hope had I not finished the chapter:

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)