HEAVENLY INCLINED...: BE IMITATORS OF *GOD*...

Thanksgiving for the LORD's Favor

Psalms 138 (A Psalm of David)
1/ I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2/ I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3/ In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4/ All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5/ Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6/ Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7/ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8/ The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands... AMEN!!!

One CANNOT earn GRACE, it is HIS own ESSENCE; a gift, still, IF one claims to be IN HIS GRACE, we ARE to, or, OUGHT to, be reflections of that GRACE! 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1, tells us not to take HIS GRACE in vain! This means, living in LOVE, morality, ethics, virtue, righteousness, and, spiritual improvement, TOWARDS, spiritual maturity, WHILE, visibly BEING as LIGHTS, beaming OF *GOD*, beckoning the world, TO THE LIGHT! Righteousness MEANS, conduct in conformity with *GOD'S* WILL, and, "Be HOLY because I AM HOLY!", therefore, indicating that knowledge, wisdom, and, effort, DO, apply TO the righteous!!! NEVER forget, we were grafted in, and, if we do not bear fruit, as a dead branch, we will be pruned out, just as were, the natural branches!!!

We are not saved by works, instead, works PROVE HIM in us: they identify HIS own...

IF I claim ONENESS with *GOD*, through CHRIST JESUS, I am DEAD TO THE WORLD, THUS, LIVING as HIM, which is, hopefully, witnessed IN, and, THROUGH, my every thought, action, and, reaction; MEANING, I am, THROUGH CONSCIOUS application OF THE WORD, HIS COMMANDS, HIS WILL, REFLECTING righteousness, not, merely, FAITH! I become, the TRULY FRUITFUL branch, of THE VINE, the TRUE member of THE BODY/THE CHURCH, CHRIST JESUS, and, TESTIFY, then, GLORIFY, BOLDLY, BY my thoughts, actions, and, reactions, HIS name, because, HE IS WORTHY, and, IN HIS LOVE, has SHOWN me, how I OUGHT to exist, to which, I eagerly, adapt, and, comply!!!

MATTHEW 5:48...
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect

1 PETER 1:14-16...
14/ Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15/ but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16/ for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."

ROMANS 12:2...
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Conduct, in conformity to *GOD'S* WILL, marks the righteous; it is NOT because of guilt, or, ancient Laws, but, because of LOVE; LOVE for *GOD*, self, then, others! CHRIST JESUS gave us Commandments to live by, of which, the first is to LOVE *GOD*, with all of your mind, heart, and, soul; the second is, to LOVE one another!

LOVE COMPELS us to LIVE IN HIM, through conduct which conforms to *GOD*; in other words, morality, ethics, doing good, and, being good, and, ever striving to improve the spirit! It is about REFLECTING THE TRUTH, for ALL to bear witness to, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY, RADIANTLY SHINING OF HIS POWER, GRACE, and, MERCIES!!!

It IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, baby, all about LOVE!!!

MATTHEW 4: 17...From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

JOHN 14:15..."If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

NOTE: I do not intend to preach, rather to reach; to stir up, awaken, to inspire, and, bring forth, in discussion, that which is, perhaps, dormantly existing in the heart of hearts, thus, little, or, no, sugar coatings, just THE WORD of *GOD*, the TRUTH, along with some of my thoughts. And truth is, I am reminding myself always, as I practice these reminders, in the best of my abilities, and capacities, while RELYING on THE LORD to lead me on that narrow PATH---> MATTHEW 7: 14: "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it... TO *GOD* BE ALL GLORY...

BE IMITATORS OF GOD...

EPHESIANS 5:1-5, and, 15-20...
1/ So be imitators of God, as beloved children,
2/ and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
3/ Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,
4/ no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.
5/ Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

15/ Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,
16/ making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.
17/ Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
18/ And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19/ addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
20/ giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Alright then; you SEE, CLEARLY, in the above verses, the IMPERATIVE message to IMITATE the LORD, *GOD*, and, to WATCH CAREFULLY HOW YOU LIVE, IN THE NOW, MAKING THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY, OF THIS day!!!

Even Paul said that he was not perfect, yet, in spiritual maturity, but, that, each day he STRIVED to become perfect in that maturity. He was BOUND to CHRIST JESUS, a slave to HIM, a willingly instrument for HIS WORD to be spread, and, shared throughout the world, WHILE, living, CONTENTEDLY, IN, and, WITH whatever means the LORD, *GOD*, PROVIDED!!!

Surely, you remember *GOD'S* instruction, "BE HOLY, because I AM HOLY!", which means, IMITATE ME as much as is humanly feasible!!!

HOW do we manage this? By DEVOURING the WORD; LEARNING, UNDERSTANDING, IMPLEMENTING, and, DELIBERATELY CHOOSING to exist IN THAT WORD!!!

It is NOT easy, but, *GOD* KNOWS this! HIS instruction calls for EFFORT over all, as HE KNOWS that practice perfects!!!

We ARE TO: LOVE, as HE LOVES, which means, COMPASSION, CARING, SHARING, ENDURING, TOLERANCE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, FORBEARING one another, and, ALL INSTANCES of WHOLESOME GOODNESS, towards *GOD*, self, and, one another! THEN, we ARE TO: PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE, HAVE FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF, and, REVERENCE TO, and, FOR, *GOD*! We ARE TO: UPLIFT, ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT, and, BEAR one another's burdens, just as CHRIST JESUS bore our burden! These are but a few of the IMPERATIVE characteristics which will BIND us to *GOD*, in the here, and, now, and, set us upon the straight path which leads to HIM, eternally!!!

WE ALL FALTER! Even the Saints faltered! It IS human to falter, HOWEVER, when walking with *GOD*, we REALIZE our faltering, REPENT, and THEN, ALTER that which CAUSED us to falter! See what this means???

AGAIN, EFFORT IS KEY! DELIBERATION, and, DEDICATION TO perfecting the imperfect COUNTS as treasure to *GOD*, for HE KNOWS our state!!!

DAILY, we MUST ATTEMPT to become HOLY, as IS HE! We MUST STUDY, then, LEARN what HOLINESS entails, then, use those examples for patterning our lives after! BY HIS WORDS, NOT BY HUMAN PRECEPTS! This is important, as many ARE CONFUSED because of the mass human precepts being taught, and, discernment is NOT easy in such matters, but, after a while, you WILL be able to discern the differences!!!

STRIVE(D) means:

1. To exert much effort or energy; endeavor.
2. To struggle or fight forcefully; contend:

Paul wrote about being a contender! He WANTED to, and, NEEDED to win the race! It BECAME his PRIMARY FOCUS, and, HELD his ATTENTION, by the moment, hourly, daily, and, for the rest of his time! He did NOT wane from his chosen course; he held STEADFAST, with GREAT DELIBERATION, as his SOLE WISH was to PLEASE *GOD*, because his LOVE for *GOD* was that intense! He GAVE himself TO *GOD*, to do with him as he might, patterned AFTER his beloved CHRIST JESUS!!!

THIS IS WHAT *GOD* IS LOOKING FOR IN HIS CHILDREN! YES, it involves WORK, EFFORT, and, CONSISTENCY, but, that is little to bear in comparison to what CHRIST endured for us, all that WE might become grafted into that HOLY vine!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
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