HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THURSDAY'S TRIUMPHS: OBLIGING HOLINESS...

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...

THURSDAY'S TRIUMPHS: OBLIGING HOLINESS...

We are not bound by the law, we are obligated to HOLINESS! Bound to the law proved us failures, obligation to HOLINESS proves us VICTORIOUS! Bound to the law was a requirement, obligation to HOLINESS is a choice! The law defeated us, and gave us a certain death, obligation to HOLINESS sees us TRIUMPHANT IN ETERNAL LIFE! Bound by law, it's imperfections, and doom, led to obligation of HOLINESS, that THE LORD *GOD* IS TRIUMPHANT, NOT the enemy!!!

The Ancients were hard pressed to keep the law, and failed, time and again, though part of the plan to rescue ALL from the enemy of *GOD*, of LIFE, of humanity!!!

The choice is before us, accept CHRIST AS THE LORD *GOD*, and LOVE HIM, then others, to OBLIGE the NEW COVENANT OF PEACE, THE COVENANT OF RECONCILIATION! In doing so, we are FREED from the world, and set apart to be consecrated into the ETERNAL ORDER, HOLY, PURE, and GLORIOUS; a celebration of TRIUMPH OVER the the evil, wicked ruler of the world!!!

1 PETER 2: 9 (EXODUS 19: 6, DEUTERONOMY 7: 6, DEUTERONOMY 14: 2, & more)...
But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The first state is a state of gross darkness, but we are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that we should show forth the praises of the Lord by our profession of his truth, and our good conduct. How vast our obligations to Him who has made us his people, and has shown mercy to us! To be without this mercy is a woeful state, though a man have all worldly enjoyments. And there is nothing that so kindly works repentance, as right thoughts of the mercy and love of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people.

By HIS LOVE, GRACE, and MERCY, we are offered THE COVENANT; by choice we oblige TO HIM, HIS WILL, and WAYS! We are not bound, yet, we are obliged to fulfill HIS WILL, which is NOT troublesome, instead, FREEING, and REWARDING!!!

CHRIST IS THE CORNERSTONE upon which we add our individual stones! HE is called a stone, to signify HIS SOLID, incorruptibility! As we build ON HIM, we realize the NEED of BECOMING more, and more like HIM, that there are NO breeches in the building UP of HIM, and HIS HOLY PRIESTHOOD! All through the ancient times, there were more breeches than not, and so, through CHOICE, we are offered a position IN the building UP of HIM, indicating IN that choice, we are obliged to what MAINTAINS the security, and stability of our adding TO HIM!!!

In all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies.

In the law, evil worked fervently in us; in CHRIST, our choice of HIM, works fervently for the GOOD, as it is LOVE that compels us, not bondage, even though, there IS obligation TO our choice, and TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS GRACE, and HIS MERCY! ANY time we make a choice to do something, there IS obligation to fulfillment of that choice, and IF we have chosen correctly, wisely, with knowledge, and understanding, though there IS effort in that fulfillment, there is no drudgery, no weight, nothing negative, instead we SEE the end result; a result of TRIUMPHING OVER what could have held us down, or defeated us!!!

HIS GIFT of LIFE, through GRACE is free, still, it IS a partnership, as it IS a COVENANT, and that implies partnership, which requires all parties to fulfill their obligation TO the COVENANT! It is a GOOD thing, not to be looked at with negativity, for that too, proves the end...

PRAISE THE LORD, WORSHIP HIM, and HONOUR HIM, by understanding, then obliging HIS GIFT!!!