While I believe in the motivating HOPE, of salvation, I do not believe in being presumptive, towards salvation! I believe in being pro-active towards it! Being presumptuous about anything, leads to arrogance, then, defiance, and, finally, lack of initiative!!!
2 PETER 1:5-13...
5/ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge,
6/ knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion,
7/ devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.
8/ If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9/ Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted, forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins.
10/ Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble.
11/ For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
12/ Therefore, I will always remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth you have.
13/ I think it right, as long as I am in this "tent," to stir you up by a reminder,
Mastery of the spirit is KEY to salvation! We are to study the life of CHRIST, and, learn the WILL of *GOD*, that, we are ABLE to distinguish, what is inclusive to surmounting, the reality of who we are; the spirit! We are told to BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY, which, is NOT symbolic, or, illustrative; it is a COMMAND BY the LORD, our *GOD*, as, eternal life is FREE from the probabilities, and, possibilities, of the less than righteous; incorruptible, without blemish, stain, taint, or, mar!!!
We are given free will, but, in hopes that we will make the right choices, aligned to THE CREATOR, *GOD*, our LORD, and, SAVIOUR; for MANY reasons; that HE IS GLORIFIED, EXALTED, and, that we are SAFE from this old world, as we journey, TO HIM, from this point, towards, eternity! HE WANTS us HOME, safely, with HIM, basking in the bounties of HIS LOVE, and, benevolence; FREE from the turmoil, anguish, pain, and, suffering, of our mortal lives! HE LONGS for us to UNDERSTAND HIM, and, the NEED to embrace, what is wholesome, what is right, what is good, not only for the soul we house, which belongs to HIM, but, for ALL of CREATION! HE HOPES that we SEE that what is visible, is not, what IS! HE WISHES for us to KNOW HIM, TRUTH, and thus, the FREEDOM therein!!!
CHRIST placed the worth of the FATHER, ABOVE all, and, everything; KNOWING that, without HIM, there is NOTHING, and, in HIS LOVE of HIM, chose to HONOUR HIS every wish, willingly, even to shedding HIS own PRECIOUS blood for us! CHRIST JESUS was, as Man, a most LOVING, gentle, deliberate, devout, conscious, compassionate, kind, giving, sharing, caring, person, MASTER of VIRTUE, and, of all things right! We should look to HIM for our WAY, through the throes of this world, especially, studying the DEPTHS of the LOVE HE holds for *GOD*, and, for *GOD'S* people!!!
Improving the spirit, begins with assessing your character, and, behaviours; then, eliminating, and/or, correcting that which, is against *GOD*/*GODLINESS*! It is NOT easy to walk the walk, walk the talk, or, BE HOLY, and, Satan KNOWS this, which is WHY, he will be nearby, to assail you with ANY tactic/device, possible, in hopes of tripping you up; he does NOT want us to SEE the TRUTH, as, he has worked, diligently, to veil it; to KEEP us, uninformed, lacking in TRUE knowledge, while, bounding about, searching, but, not finding, due to being unaware, OF what we are, seeking!!!
CHRIST died for us! This alone, should be inspiration enough, to arouse our senses towards, improving our spirit, by advancing them in *GOD'S* Wisdom, and, Knowledge, while, adapting TO, virtues, chastity, morality, restraint, abstinence, self-control, ethics, and, over all, goodness! We MUST MERIT salvation, it was purchased with a price; a price, so unprecedented, so full of LOVE, so amazing!!!
HEBREWS 12:1-16...
1/ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us
2/ while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
3/ Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
4/ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
5/ You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him;
6/ for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."
7/ Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?
8/ If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.
9/ Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live?
10/ They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.
11/ At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
12/ So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
13/ Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.14/ Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15/ See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled,
16/ that no one be an immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold hisbirthright for a single meal.
Christian life is to be inspired NOT only by the OLD TESTAMENT Men, and, Women, of FAITH, but, ABOVE all, by JESUS! as the ARCHITECT of Christian FAITH, HE had HIMSELF, to endure the cross, BEFORE receiving the GLORY of HIS triumph! REFLECTION ON HIS sufferings, SHOULD give HIS followers, COURAGE to CONTINUE the struggle, if necessary, even, to the shedding of blood. Christians SHOULD regard their own sufferings, as the affectionate correction of THE LORD, who LOVES them, as a FATHER, LOVES his Children...
The NEW TESTAMENT IS FILLED with instructions FOR IMPROVING/PERFECTING the spirit to maturity, and, for GOOD reasons!!!
2 PETER 1:5-13...
5/ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge,
6/ knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion,
7/ devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.
8/ If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9/ Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted, forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins.
10/ Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble.
11/ For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
12/ Therefore, I will always remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth you have.
13/ I think it right, as long as I am in this "tent," to stir you up by a reminder,
Mastery of the spirit is KEY to salvation! We are to study the life of CHRIST, and, learn the WILL of *GOD*, that, we are ABLE to distinguish, what is inclusive to surmounting, the reality of who we are; the spirit! We are told to BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY, which, is NOT symbolic, or, illustrative; it is a COMMAND BY the LORD, our *GOD*, as, eternal life is FREE from the probabilities, and, possibilities, of the less than righteous; incorruptible, without blemish, stain, taint, or, mar!!!
We are given free will, but, in hopes that we will make the right choices, aligned to THE CREATOR, *GOD*, our LORD, and, SAVIOUR; for MANY reasons; that HE IS GLORIFIED, EXALTED, and, that we are SAFE from this old world, as we journey, TO HIM, from this point, towards, eternity! HE WANTS us HOME, safely, with HIM, basking in the bounties of HIS LOVE, and, benevolence; FREE from the turmoil, anguish, pain, and, suffering, of our mortal lives! HE LONGS for us to UNDERSTAND HIM, and, the NEED to embrace, what is wholesome, what is right, what is good, not only for the soul we house, which belongs to HIM, but, for ALL of CREATION! HE HOPES that we SEE that what is visible, is not, what IS! HE WISHES for us to KNOW HIM, TRUTH, and thus, the FREEDOM therein!!!
CHRIST placed the worth of the FATHER, ABOVE all, and, everything; KNOWING that, without HIM, there is NOTHING, and, in HIS LOVE of HIM, chose to HONOUR HIS every wish, willingly, even to shedding HIS own PRECIOUS blood for us! CHRIST JESUS was, as Man, a most LOVING, gentle, deliberate, devout, conscious, compassionate, kind, giving, sharing, caring, person, MASTER of VIRTUE, and, of all things right! We should look to HIM for our WAY, through the throes of this world, especially, studying the DEPTHS of the LOVE HE holds for *GOD*, and, for *GOD'S* people!!!
Improving the spirit, begins with assessing your character, and, behaviours; then, eliminating, and/or, correcting that which, is against *GOD*/*GODLINESS*! It is NOT easy to walk the walk, walk the talk, or, BE HOLY, and, Satan KNOWS this, which is WHY, he will be nearby, to assail you with ANY tactic/device, possible, in hopes of tripping you up; he does NOT want us to SEE the TRUTH, as, he has worked, diligently, to veil it; to KEEP us, uninformed, lacking in TRUE knowledge, while, bounding about, searching, but, not finding, due to being unaware, OF what we are, seeking!!!
CHRIST died for us! This alone, should be inspiration enough, to arouse our senses towards, improving our spirit, by advancing them in *GOD'S* Wisdom, and, Knowledge, while, adapting TO, virtues, chastity, morality, restraint, abstinence, self-control, ethics, and, over all, goodness! We MUST MERIT salvation, it was purchased with a price; a price, so unprecedented, so full of LOVE, so amazing!!!
HEBREWS 12:1-16...
1/ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us
2/ while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
3/ Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
4/ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
5/ You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him;
6/ for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."
7/ Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?
8/ If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.
9/ Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live?
10/ They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.
11/ At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
12/ So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
13/ Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.14/ Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15/ See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled,
16/ that no one be an immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold hisbirthright for a single meal.
Christian life is to be inspired NOT only by the OLD TESTAMENT Men, and, Women, of FAITH, but, ABOVE all, by JESUS! as the ARCHITECT of Christian FAITH, HE had HIMSELF, to endure the cross, BEFORE receiving the GLORY of HIS triumph! REFLECTION ON HIS sufferings, SHOULD give HIS followers, COURAGE to CONTINUE the struggle, if necessary, even, to the shedding of blood. Christians SHOULD regard their own sufferings, as the affectionate correction of THE LORD, who LOVES them, as a FATHER, LOVES his Children...
The NEW TESTAMENT IS FILLED with instructions FOR IMPROVING/PERFECTING the spirit to maturity, and, for GOOD reasons!!!
It IS the season for HONOURING the GREATEST GIFT ever imagined, ever known; our LORD, CHRIST JESUS, our SAVIOUR, our KING, our HOPE for eternal life, and so, in HONOURING HIM, let reflection OF HIS WAYS, be our guide, and, our encouragement, and, our example, that our feet are, ever, heading TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS, IN HIS name sake! PRAISE *GOD* for HIS plan to rescue us from the world, and, to TEACH us what it takes to secure safety, LOVE, and, PEACE!!! AMEN!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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