Thought

"That negative thought produces illness, unhappiness, failure, doubt, despair; and conversely, positive thought produces health, happiness, prosperity, peace." by Michael Macguire.

You cannot think negative thoughts about another human being, you cannot seek to harm or hurt someone regardless of your reason for the action without ultimately bringing upon yourself the product of negative thought.

The story of Stephen in the Bible in Acts 6:8 to Acts 7:60 is a illustration of what negative thought creates. Stephen by all accounts was a pretty good bloke (full of grace and power, worked great miracles among the people it says). A couple of people got jealous of his following so "they secretly instigated and instructed people to say, We have heard this man speak, using slanderous and abusive and blasphemous language against Moses and God." In other words they lied to their friends, got their friends to lie to others, even creating false witnesses against Stephen.

That happened 2000 years ago, but nobody would do that today would they?!?!? Surely we have learned something in 2000 years.

What Stephen said and did and the praises he received from those he helped must have really rubbed these couple of people up the wrong way ... my guess is that they were probably a couple of old friends who wanted the same recognition as Stephen received but never did anything to achieve it!! They were actually from Stephen's old church, so they would have known him pretty well - maybe some even worked with him before he became famous.

Well, the story goes on to tell us Stephen (the guy who was creating all the miracles and liked be many) was arrested and put to trial - all because of the anger and jealously of a couple of people who never helped anyone but sought to pull successful people like Stephen down. He was arrested by those he was trying to help, who were stirred up by the lying, deceitful, jealous friends from his old church!

Eventually the hatred grew so great against Stephen these people bit him and stoned him to death. Stephen knew that these people did not understand the basics of how the mind works. He knew what was in stall for them because as he died he pleaded on their behalf "Lord, fix not this sin to upon them." Stephen understood that the negative thoughts and actions only create destruction in the lives of those who think it and do it.

We don't have record of what happened to those who instigated the evil hatred and anger to begin with nor of those who stoned Stephen to death because of the lies and deception create by those filled with jealousy. History rarely records these people ... they are quickly forgotten as they suffer their own disease, depression, failure, despair and often pitiful death; never remembered for the people they tried to bring down.

We do read of one man who stood and watched, even approved to Stephen's stoning and death - enjoying the stupidity of these ignorant people. A short time later this man who watched on was harassed, molested and blinded ... he became a very troubled man. He eventually was hung on a cross to die.

You may think this is just a story that is 2000 years old ... the truth is that this same story is happening today. There are people like those jealous angry few that lie and deceive because they are too lazy to become better themselves, they see other people's successes and fame and seek to knock them down, even destroy them so they themselves don't look so bad. Too often it is created by someone who you know, even someone you thought was a friend. They don't do the stoning, they just create the negative stories, the slander, the lies, and incite anger toward you for striving to be the best you can be.

Remember to those who want to wallow in such filth, those who wish to poke fingers at others for striving, those who seek to pull others down though lies and deception, those who even stand and watch with approval and glee - illness, unhappiness, failure, doubt, despair, an unfulfilled life ... and death is the very best they will ever achieve because this is a universal law. Never remembered for the greatness they could have done. What a waste of life and time.

To you who stand tall and bold, who focus only on giving your best, seeking only to lift up those around you, speaking word of truth and encouragement, loving even those who hate you and seek to destroy you - your rewards are health, happiness, prosperity, peace, fulfilment, love ... and life ... far over and above all that you dare ask or think, infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams (Eph 3:20) because this is also universal law ... God's law.