HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE GIFT OF LOVE, FROM CHRIST TO OTHERS: THE LAW...

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...

THE GIFT OF LOVE, FROM CHRIST TO OTHERS: THE LAW...

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. LEO BUSCAGLIA...

The above quote from Leo Buscaglia, is a profound message, which, IS premised upon LOVE; the LOVE we were COMMANDED to live in, but, which, through societies, has been altered, to fit the times, pride, judgementalism, and, many negatives! IF WE LOVED, there would be NO need for such quotes, as, NO ONE would be without LOVE, respect, regard, or, that which, EMPOWERS them, thus, keeping them, out of the line of what causes humans to stumble, fall, falter, wane, and, even, give up!!!

Besides fear of *GOD*, and, FAITH, LOVE IS ESSENTIAL to life, to living IN HIS WILL, and, to growth in the spirit! LOVE does NOT stand in partiality, it does NOT provoke, it does NOT TAKE PEOPLE DOWN! LOVE IS encouraging, encompassing, empowering, enabling, enriching, enlightening, kind, patient, tolerant, understanding, compassion, gentle, full of endowment, and, FOR THE GOOD OF ALL! LOVE DOES NOT decide whom is worthy of it, for ALL IN CREATION, IS WORTHY of LOVE, for, LOVE IS *GOD*, and, *GOD* IS OUR FATHER/CREATOR/BENEVOLENCE/DELIVERER, and, SOURCE for what will lead us through this journey!!!

WHO can live in righteousness, when the world denies them? Very few! Some ARE able to, WITH the MIGHT of *GOD*, to overcome the denial of LOVE for them, from the world; but, for the most part, LACK of LOVE from others, tears a person to shreds, and, leaves them incapacitated, which, is shameful, especially, when the denial of LOVE, comes from the learned, and, the so-called, devout!!!

HOW can one who is knowledgeable of *GOD*, refuse to LOVE? Yet, it happens, all the time, and, has turned MANY people from the Churches, and even, from THE TRUTH! There is a price to pay for turning souls away from *GOD*, and, for causing them to suffer!!!

Understand, LOVE is NOT your gift, IT IS *GOD'S* gift, to be embraced, revered, honoured, appreciated, and, shared with ALL in CREATION! So, it is your pride, and, other errs of character, and, wrongful behaviours, which, is allowing you to believe that YOU are in charge of whom receives LOVE; all wrong, and, all damaging!!!

It is probable that ALL of humanity has abused the gift of LOVE, which, only PROVES, that, we NEED to dive INTO THE WORD, deeper, and, deeper, that, we begin to REALIZE the depth, breadth, and, height, OF LOVE, and, it's OVERALL advantage, TO ALL in existence, as was intended, and, shall, evermore, remain effective!!!

There is REASON that we are to EVER improve the spirit, that we come, closer, and, closer, to *GOD*, and, some semblance of *GODLINESS*, and, LEARNING LOVE, in it's entirety, to the best of our abilities, and, capacities, IS a major part of improvement!!!

1 JOHN 4:20-21...
20/ If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
21/ This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother...

CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, and, SAVIOUR, gave the COMMANDMENT of LOVE! Not only this, but, HE SHOWED the nature of LOVE, in HIS walk on this Earth! HE said that those whom ARE with HIM, ARE HIS Brother's, therefore, IF we claim to be one with HIM, when we deny LOVE towards anyone, we are denying HIM, TRUTH, and, ultimately, salvation! LOVE IS NOT easy to stand in, but, the more we practice it, embrace it, and, give it, the more it becomes, soundly, one with our being, and, intentions!!!

THIS season, Easter season, IS the celebration OF THE GREATEST PROOF of LOVE, ever known, therefore, IN HONOUR of THIS GIFT, and, of HIM, isn't it only fitting, that we, whom CLAIM oneness with HIM, LEARN LOVE, and, GIVE LOVE, all of the rest of our days, in REALIZATION that LOVE PROMOTES HIM, and, the GOOD of ALL in existence?!?!

Easter is time of RENEWAL, REBIRTH, and, RENEWED HOPE; and so, to exemplify *GOD*, let us RENEW our determination TO LOVE, daily, that, it takes root, and, becomes whom we are!!!

Every day, it is evidenced that LOVE MUST be more understood, embraced, and, utilized; this is obvious in general observation, of what is happening all around us! Christianity is the world's LARGEST religion, therefore, IF we adhered, and, aligned TO LOVE, we HAVE, in our membership, with CHRIST, the POWER to change the world; but, the LOVE HAS to be real, and, premised UPON the LOVE of *GOD*, NOT upon the LOVE of humanity, WHICH MEANS, it cannot be negative IN ANY way, it MUST be VOID of discrimination, partiality, personal assessment, and, that which, lies in the carnal plane; it MUST COME from the heart of hearts, the spirit; the spirit, WHICH, BELONGS TO *GOD*, and, OUGHT TO BE CULTIVATED UPON HIS LAWS, STATUTES, and, PRECEPTS, KNOWING that, LOVE IS THE ANTIDOTE TO ALL WHICH, IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD!!!

TO *GOD* BE THE GLORY, and, that GLORY, begins with LOVE; LOVE of HIM, then, LOVE of one another, placing OTHERS, BEFORE the self, that, ALL are, equally, gathering from HIS LOVE!!!

MATTHEW 5:43-48...
43/ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44/ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45/ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46/ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47/ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48/ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 PETER 4:8-9...
8/ Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.
9/ Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

Besides with our Spouses, or, Families, we do NOT have to LIKE to LOVE; LOVE is ABOVE that! LOVE SUPERSEDES what could bring dissension, and, RAISES the bar! LOVE MIGHT come as a result of liking someone, but, it is not inherent to liking, instead, liking someone is a component/product/condition of LOVE! LOVE works like this; have you ever met someone you could not stand, but, were forced to be around, in social situations, or, the workplace, and, after awhile, you found that they were likable, and, had more in common with you, than, previously thought? LOVE ALLEVIATES all problems in society; which, is, in part, WHY, it IS THE LAW OF *GOD*!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS