HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM: FAITH, AND THE SAVING GRACE OF THE LORD *GOD*...

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...

WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM: FAITH, AND THE SAVING GRACE OF THE LORD GOD...

Symbolism is used throughout THE WORD, to illustrate, inspire, and drive home intended messages, so that understanding takes root...

One of my favourite examples, is found in DANIEL 3; the story of King Nebuchadnezzar who had a golden statue made, with an order that at the sound of any musical instrument, all people in all nations were to bow down and worship the golden statue, including a threat that whoever did not fall down, to worship the statue would be thrown into a white hot fiery furnace...

There were certain Jews, administrators of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, who refused to worship the statue. The King was furious, and sent for the three, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, instructing them that they must worship as he had decreed! To which they replied: "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us. But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up."

The King was livid with anger, and he ordered that the furnace be made seven times hotter than usual, and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace. They were bound and cast into the white-hot furnace with their coats, hats, shoes and other garments, for the king's order was urgent. So huge a fire was kindled in the furnace that the flames devoured the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it...

The three in the furnace walked around singing, and BLESSING THE LORD, and PRAYED to HIM, concerning their sins, and for HIS DELIVERANCE...

The King's Men stoked the furnace, adding more fuel to the already intense inferno, so powerful were the flames that they burnt many nearby! Then the three, in one accord, began GLORIFYING, and PRAISING THE LORD, proclaiming HIS MIGHT, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY, and ALL that HE had done, and brought forth!!!

As this was going on, the King, and his Men gazed into the inferno, startled, and confused, and discussed between themselves that they had thrown but three Men into the furnace, but there was a fourth, who looked like a son of *GOD*! And the King ordered the Men to come out of the furnace, and all witnessed that not a hair on their head, nor their clothing, nor anything of them, had even been singed, scorched, nor did they smell of smoke, or fire...

At this time the King declared that all people, of all nations shall never blaspheme THE LORD *GOD* of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for no other *GOD* can save as does HE...

There are several messages in this story, one of which is, THERE IS BUT ONE LIVING *GOD*! Then, these three Men, do, or die, would NOT compromise their LORD, *GOD*, by serving anyone, or anything but HIM! They never lost FAITH, and never placed their lives as having more importance than HIS GLORY, or their allegiance, loyalty, and devotion TO HIM! They NEVER questioned HIS DIVINE POWER, but whether or not it would be used to their favour, and for HIS GLORY to be proven before the non-believers!!!

Such a creative *GOD* is THE LORD, to find SO many ways to awaken us, rouse us, inspire us, and teach us! PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, and be THANKFUL for HIS ALL ENCOMPASSING PRESENCE in our lives, and for LOVING us enough to guide us in ways that bind to the heart!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS