HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: MODESTY & BEING MODEST...

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...

SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: MODESTY & BEING MODEST...

Modesty: 1...The quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.

2...regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

3...simplicity; moderation.

Modest: 1...having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.

2...free from ostentation or showy extravagance: a modest house.

3...having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.; decent: a modest neckline on a dress.

4...limited or moderate in amount, extent, etc.: a modest increase in salary.

WHY is modesty so imperative to a walk with THE LORD *GOD*? There are quite a few significant reasons for modesty, and being modest! Being humbled before *GOD* means that we live in modesty, as we have stepped out of the self, into the spirit; in other words, we don't seek glory, we KNOW ALL GLORY IS HIS, and when we reach our destination, HEAVEN, HIS GLORY shall be ours! Plus, we REALIZE that we are nothing without HIM, thus, of what could we, rightfully, and honestly boast? All of our boasting should be of HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS PERFECTION, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY, HIS LOVE for us, and the infinite magnificence of HIS being! We KNOW that ALL we have, and receive, comes FROM HIM, thus, we are humbled, and exist in modesty!!!

THE LORD has serious anger towards the proud, the defiant, and the obstinate! Humbled, modest, moderate, moral people HE favours!!!

Now being modest is generally, in the BIBLE associated with Women, in that they should NOT live in ways that entice Men, or invite temptation (though truly, modesty, and being modest, apply to ALL areas of life)! This is an area of understanding that has been blown out of our solar system, and rarely ever taught! In these times, to live modestly, to dress modest, and appear modest, is almost unheard of, or scoffed, especially in context of Women for many reasons, one of which is, modest Women aren't considered as attractive as those that are trendy, flirty, and so forth! Listen, I dressed pretty sexy all my life, up until my VOWS to *GOD*, and I still am not perfectly modest, but gettin' there! No one ever taught me that dressing sexy was wrong, I just grew up in places where sexiness was normal, and part of life! Now, I SEE that I was on the wrong path, and invited many of the troubles I experienced, due to ignorance!!!

Today, Women are competing with various factors, to keep their Men interested, or at all, so, it has become common place to dress, and adorn, sexily! The majority of Men have contributed to this necessity, as they frequent clubs, web-sites, and other such that feed, and fuel their fantasies! It has gotten out of control, but also, has become the social norm! It is almost as if, we Women have become the temptation on the tree of life!!!

It's like this, a state of modesty is the riddance of the pride that demands glory! Being modest is a state of respectful regard for oneself, in compliance to what *GOD* has decreed; the riddance of vanity that feeds the pride that demands glory!!!

Modesty, and being modest keep us moral, and focused upon what is TRULY important, THE LORD! When there is a lack of modesty, and being modest, there is invitation to sin! When one takes on modesty, and being modest, the focus shifts from the flesh, to the spirit, which then, GLORIFIES *GOD*!!!

The Virtues lead us to living as THE LORD has instructed us to live; and modesty, or being modest, falls into the virtue of humility, but also, attributes to chastity, and temperance, as well as remaining a thread that binds the others! The 7 Virtues are the antidote of the 7 Deadly Sins, in which we find the very things that develop insatiable passions that remove us from THE LORD, as they are fueled by pride, lust, envy, and vainglory!!!

Many do not believe that such matters apply to the Christian, yet, whom then, do they apply? THE WORD is clear about ALL matters under the HEAVENS, and modesty, or being modest IS spoken of more than 30 times therein! For instance:
1 CORINTHIANS 6: 18-20...
18/ Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body.
19/ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20/ For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.

PROVERBS 31: 30...
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

MATTHEW 5: 28...
But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

It is a matter of respect, and regard FOR THE LORD, HIS WILL, and WAYS! In obedience, we humble ourselves before HIM in modesty, and go forth being modest in our ways, and appearances! It is also, a matter of respect, and regard for ourselves, as when we live IN HIM, we HONOUR HIM, body, mind, and soul, which ought to be reflected in just that way!!!

Modesty, and being modest should be considered, then, determined by the individual, according to their FAITH! There ARE extremes, and extremists; balance IS KEY to maintaining a REAL relationship with THE LORD, so meditation, and PRAYER are called for in these matters! READING, contemplating and researching HIS WORD on this matter leads to greater understanding, and opens UP to HIS guidance! As always, follow HIM, not humanity, not your own understanding, ONLY HIM!!!

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