HEAVENLY INCLINED...: BROTHERHOOD, THE EVIDENCE OF LOVE...

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...

BROTHERHOOD, THE EVIDENCE OF LOVE...

Brotherhood: the word conjures up Positive pictures of LOVE, and, PEACE shared by all! WHY is brotherhood so difficult to achieve, when *GOD* has told us that we ARE to live in the communal way? How do we begin to develop brotherhood to the point that it is embraced by the world???

BROTHERHOOD (Dictionary.com):
–noun
1. the condition or quality of being a brother or brothers.
2. the quality of being brotherly; fellowship.
3. a fraternal or trade organization.
EXPAND
4. all those engaged in a particular trade or profession or sharing a common interest or quality.
5. the belief that all people should act with warmth and equality toward one another, regardless of differences in race, creed, nationality, etc.

Straightaway, we see that FELLOWSHIP, COMMON INTEREST, and, ACTION are core values of brotherhood! Values we ALL possess, but, have set up boundaries, intentional, or, not, in displaying, or, sharing them! WHY? It is truly complicated, and, goes, once again, to the egocentric mind/mentality of self! You see, IF we didn't LISTEN to that egocentric self so much, we would be WAY MORE open to ALL things, situations, circumstances, conditions, people, and, so on! The egocentric mind/mentality IS the center of DECEPTION/DARKNESS/SELFISHNESS/CONFUSION/DELUSION; it IS the evil one's ONLY hold on us!!!

Dig; *GOD* has COMMANDED that IN the realm of LOVE, we ARE to be as Brothers/Sisters! It is so interesting, BECAUSE, MOST things that HE COMMANDS, are things which we have the biggest struggles with! Seriously, think about it! We struggle with HOLY LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, FAITH, CHARITY, and, MUCH MORE! We ARE extremely ENDOWED with the CAPACITY to EMBRACE, AND, to live in HIS COMMANDS, but, that ole' egocentric mind/mentality/the evil deceiver, gives one heck of a fight, BEFORE believing in our capacities!!!

The CHRISTIAN religion, BASED on CHRIST, who TOLD us to LIVE IN BROTHERHOOD, SHOULD be BRIGHTLY SHINING examples of Brotherly LOVE, but, in fact, has a huge struggle within it's superstructure! IF we, the CHRISTIAN people COULD embrace the TRUTH of LOVE, and, BROTHERHOOD, we would be able to reach, and, teach the world, in an unprecedented way!!!

Brotherly LOVE includes ALL of JESUS' COMMANDS, such as developing character, which involves, PATIENCE, TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, KINDNESS, AND, CHARITY! Of course, there is more, but, these BASICS can turn the world around; carried out, NOT in thought, or, word, but in deed/action/reaction. It is EASY to SAY, "I LOVE YOU, my Brother/Sister!", but, that HAS to have ACTION to make it real! For instance, A VERY GREAT INSTANCE, AT THAT; JESUS said that those who follow HIM should give up, and, sell, everything they own, THAT, the profit TAKE CARE OF ALL! This IS HUGE! This IS HOW IT SHOULD BE, REGARDLESS of the year! IF we lived in this mentality, WHO could be hungry, homeless, alone, or, suffering? You see, BROTHERHOOD is ONLY EFFECTIVE IN ACTION, PROVIDING, SUPPORTING, ENCOURAGING, and, UPLIFTING ALL, AS ONE!!!

Again, the egocentric mind/mentality/deception, cheats us out of our rights! Dig: Brotherhood is founded on this principle, LOVE, which INCLUDES the mentality of TRUTH, WHICH IS, NONE IS GREATER, NONE IS LESS, than the other, NOT ONE! INSTEAD, Brotherhood INSISTS that ALL are EQUAL, ALL are subject to *GOD*, and, HIS WAYS/WILL, and, ALL are ENABLED to AID one another IN EVERY SINGLE INCIDENT known to mankind!!!

WE, the people of *GOD*, HAVE ALL resources at our disposal to bring into FOCUS, the VERY core of *GODLINESS*! HE has LAID IT OUT BEFORE US, in PLAIN terms, that WE MIGHT grasp it, AND THEN, NURTURE/DEVELOP such, THEN, LIVE IN these PRECEPTS, with UNDERSTANDING, that IT IS BENEFICIAL TO ALL MANKIND, IN THE NAME OF *GOD*/LOVE!!!

GALATIANS 5:14-15...
14/ For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
15/ But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

ROMANS 2:1-6...
1/ Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.
2/ We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.
3/ Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4/ Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance?
5/ By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God,
6/ who will repay everyone according to his works:

It is written that PASSION is the cause of dissension, war, greed, and, the fall of mankind!
JAMES 4:1-4...
1/ Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
2/ You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask.
3/ You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
4/ Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

You see, PASSION IS the result of that egocentric mind/mentality/deception, and, IS BEST left turned TOWARDS *GOD*, and, *GODLINESS*, OTHERWISE, it causes us to falter/sin, far faster than one can imagine! PASSION is that thought of something which breeds lust, anguish, desire, anger, fury, hatred, and, MANY negatives, even though, IN it's SPIRITUAL sense, IS NECESSARY to a walk with *GOD*!!!

SO much to take in! So much to learn! So much to meditate upon UNTIL it settles in the soul, the heart of hearts, the mind, AS *GOD* INTENDED!!!

We can begin to live in Brotherhood NOW! We only have to PUT ASIDE all instances of NEGATIVITY, when dealing with others, and, REPLACE that with POSITIVITY! HOW difficult can this be? Imagine it; every time you are near someone, no matter what is involved, you THINK, SPEAK, ACT, and, REACT in POSITIVITY, WITH LOVE as the MOTIVE! It doesn't matter if they reciprocate, or, respond accordingly, that is NOT what Brotherhood is about; it is about PAYING THE BEST OF YOURSELF, PREMISED ON HOLY LOVE, FORWARD, forevermore, that ALL people ARE receiving *GOD*, THROUGH YOU!!!

This is such a DEEP subject, with many correlating matters involved, so, we shall pick up on this again soon!!!

I LOVE YOU, in the name of *GOD*!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP
*except for BIBLICAL, and/or, other references*
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY, and, IN COLOURS