I COULDN'T live without *GOD*, nor, would I want to! NOTHING in existence, can be, without HIM! It IS HE, who brings forth this day, in which, IS all provision, all possibility, all, and, everything! Each day belongs to HIM, just as does, everything within each day! HE IS, thus, we are!!!Even though, sometimes, life is not quite right, I am grateful, and, thankful, for this day, as, it gives me just a bit more time to improve upon myself, in HIS GLORIOUS name! I feel privileged to be included in this 24 hour span, and, whatever is involved in this day, IS, useful for me, to increase my knowledge, wisdom, understanding, along with the embracing, OF HIS WILL! Thus, as my eyes open, I am thanking HIM, PRAISING HIM, and, asking for HIS guidance, through the hours of this day!!!
I LIVE BY the precepts of *GOD*, the HOLY WORD, not because I HAVE to; I have free will, but, because I do NOT take the COVENANT of RECONCILIATION, nor, CHRIST, for granted! I am FAR from being perfected IN my quest for HOLINESS, but, that is NOT the point, the point is that, I EVER endeavor, TO perfect my being, FOR HIM, FOR the GOOD of ALL, and, FOR the COVENANT itself/CHRIST!!!
To me, it is a matter of HONOURING HIM, and, HIS endless gifts! It is a matter of HAVING LEARNED, through years of existing in the flesh, the TRUE WAY TO LIFE! It is a matter of LOVE, more than anything, as HIS LOVE gushes forth INTO me, PROVIDING conscientiousness, and, the NEED for righteousness of behaviours, and, development of character! I LOVE *GOD*, in ALL of HIS GLORY, as, HE, ALONE, HAS been ever present, and, ever provisional, unto me, the lowly, wretched being I was, or, still am, and, I APPRECIATE HIS FIDELITY TOWARDS ME, BY RETURNING THIS FIDELITY TO HIM!!!
I retain ME, the person HE CREATED, you bet I do, yet, ALWAYS STRIVING to IMPROVE upon myself, that, HE is GLORIFIED THROUGH me!!!
Scripture has SHOWN me that I must NEVER take HIS GIFT, HIS LOVE, or, my grafting INTO HIM, for granted, for this creates boasting, and, arrogance, which then, leave me in position to act in ways, against HIM/righteousness! Instead, I live in the HOPE of redemption, WHILE, IN EFFORT, APPLYING HIS WORD, TO my life! Again, I am imperfect, even in my efforts, but, this too, TEACHES me, and, GUIDES me, ever closer, TO HIM, and, eternal life!!!
FAITH is my shield against the onslaught of deception in this world, which, ALLOWS me to, SAFELY, FURTHER my GROWTH INTO HIM, free of what evil hurls my way! FAITH is one part of it, effort is, also, a part of it! Let's look at some Scripture...
ROMANS 7:14-25...
14/ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold into slavery to sin.
15/ What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.
16/ Now if I do what I do not want, I concur that the law is good.
17/ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18/ For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
19/ For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.
20/ Now if (I) do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21/ So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
22/ For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
23/ but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24/ Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
25/ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with my mind, serve the law of God but, with my flesh, the law of sin.
FOOTNOTE: Christians have been released from the grip of sin, but, sin ENDEAVORS to reclaim its victims. THE ANTIDOTE IS CONSTANT REMEMBRANCE that DIVINE GRACE has claimed them, and, identifies them as people who are alive ONLY for *GOD'S* interests...
So, you SEE, clearly, that, while we are standing in GRACE, there WILL be, especially, near the end, battles to withstand, and, TO WITHSTAND them, we HAVE to be spiritually mature, sound, and, steadfast IN righteousness! SO many believe that we do NOT have responsibility TO salvation, but, in the entire BIBLE, *GOD* HAS COMMANDED responsibility TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS; NOT because we can EARN anything, but, because AS CITIZENS OF *GOD*, WE SHOULD BE EVIDENT, and, OBVIOUSLY INTACT WITH HOLINESS! Our quest from ANY stance, whether in the flesh, or, the spirit, IS GROWTH, therefore, GROWTH REQUIRES EFFORT, and, EFFORT PRODUCES fruits, WORTHY of THAT EFFORT!
IF I say that I am ONE with THE *GODHEAD*, and, do NOTHING which, shows that I am in that oneness, then, what good is my saying so? WHEN we became ONE with CHRIST, in Baptism, our carnal/fleshy being, DIED, and, was BORN, the spirit, which, does NOT concern itself, with matters of the flesh! It is NOT for the sake of APPEARANCES, but, for the sake of calling forth MORE of *GOD'S* people, THROUGH our thoughts, actions, and, reactions, in other words, BEING A TRUE REFLECTION OF THE LIGHT, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, CHRIST, our LORD, and, SAVIOUR!
I don't argue over Scripture, it is NOT my way; INSTEAD, I CHOOSE to live IN THE WORD, BY BECOMING as perfect in character, and, behaviours, as is feasible, TO SHINE HIS WILL, and, to HONOUR HIM, in HOPES that SOME will RECOGNIZE HIM, through my thoughts, actions, and, reactions! Listen, if you take a position of employment, are you NOT, REQUIRED to abide, to adhere, align, and, conform TO the job description? And, if you DON'T, aren't you at risk? Say what you will, your walk with *GOD*, is yours, but, for the sake of HONOURING HIM, doesn't it make sense to walk the walk, walk the talk, and, REFLECT HIM, TRULY, in ALL you are???
Just as the Chosen Angels of Heaven, exalt HIM, ALL of the days of existence, so, shall we, in thought, action, and, reaction! We LIVE FOR HIM, we are HERE, BECAUSE OF HIM, and, shall find eternal life, IN HIM, TO GLORIFY, EXALT, EXTOL, PRAISE, WORSHIP, and, RESOUND HIS NAME THROUGHOUT CREATION! To the Thessalonians Paul said, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification (holiness…For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7)!!!
Many Christians are living in debauchery, promiscuity, defilement of all sorts; are they acting in righteousness?
FOOTNOTE, ROMANS 8:13... Christian life is therefore the experience of a CONSTANT CHALLENGE to put to death the evil deeds of the body THROUGH life of the spirit!!!*GOD* says, "BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY!"
JESUS repeated this command, and, so did Paul, and, so did Peter! IF we DON'T have responsibility TO HIM, TO THE WORD, TO Salvation, then, HOW are we to become HOLY? Yes, I know, some believe that in Baptism, we are made HOLY, but, do such people, ACT in HOLINESS, all of the days of their lives? And, if they don't, then, isn't pride, arrogance, and, other mentalities against virtue, persisting OVER HOLINESS? It is an ongoing, never ending debate of conscientiousness, yet, throughout THE WORD, we ARE CALLED TO BE HOLY, and, to PERFECT the spirit, FOR, and, TO, THE GLORY OF *GOD*, and, FOR THE GOOD OF ALL in existence! Again, it is NOT done to EARN ANYTHING, it is done out of LOVE, respect, regard, and, honour of HIM, our LORD, our *GOD*, our FATHER, our CREATOR, and, the SPIRIT, which, HE endows us with!!!Let *GOD* lead you, always; it is in HIM, that ALL TRUTH is revealed, and, known!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment