HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE LABOUR OF LOVE...

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 LABOUR OF LOVE...

*GOD* IS LOVE, therefore LOVE WILL guide me, IF I LOVE HIM! IN that LOVE IS the innate ability to TAKE ON CHRIST JESUS' example, and become as is HE; gentle, kind, compassionate, and TOTALLY DEDICATED TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER; becoming sanctified, and set apart for HIS purposes...

It IS LOVE that clearly defines HIS own, as LOVE KEEPS them in ALLEGIANCE TO HIS WILL, and WAYS, and aligns them TO what is right, just, and good! It is UNFEIGNED, and is constantly developing the spirit, WITH the HOLY SPIRIT as the curator, if you will...

To FOLLOW CHRIST means to step INTO HIS example, more than just belief in HIM, for belief without works is as no belief, just as works without belief is nullified. To BE LIKE CHRIST is to emulate HIM in ALL matters, and manners. At first, it is mimicking, then as time goes on, it becomes natural, and grows, thanks be to HIM...

It isn't that we won't stumble, trip, or even fall, it is that we are, OUT OF LOVE, being more CONSCIOUS of our thoughts, actions, and reactions to avoid the enemy, and to overcome our egocentric being, who LOVES to partner with the enemy! We become more AWARE of what could lead us to act in ways against THE LORD, and we AIM to BE as pleasing to HIM as is feasible, given our circumstances, and conditions! We are MOTIVATED BY LOVE, and therefore, MAKE efforts ALIGNED TO HIM, to correct what is correctable, according to HIS WILL...

We are NOT defeated by the flesh, NO WAY! We CAN'T resign ourselves to this falsehood! We ARE Children, and Heirs to THE KING, and THE KINGDOM, therefore ABOVE what could bind us, and rob us of our rightful inheritance, borne of LOVE! To resign to our human state is to deny HIM, for HE CREATED us for HIGHER purposes, which include time in this world to become refined, but NOT bound to, or lost to....

It IS BY GRACE of HIS LOVE that we have been offered THE COVENANT OF PEACE, and RECONCILIATION, and BY THAT GRACE we live, grow, and develop INTO our TRUE selves, the spirit which BELONGS to HIM, not to the world! We HONOUR HIS GRACE, through living IN examples OF that GRACE, prompted BY LOVE...

A COVENANT has two sides; HIS, and ours! HE IS FAITHFUL beyond question to HIS side, and we HAVE responsibility to our side! Just as a VOW, there are conditions to HONOURING the sacredness of said VOW!!!

We CAN'T do it on our own, but, the initial agreement TO LOVE, and HONOUR HIM, involves effort, and more, on our part, in order for HIM to work freely through us, without us grieving HIM, or worse...

Some of us have serious issues that we cannot put aside, though, there IS a point of acknowledgement, then surrender, that HE remains PROMINENT OVER these issues, thus, HIS WILL CAN work freely in, through, and around us...

We are to be SO ONE with HIM, that we are as conduits for HIM, the electricity that flows readily through us! We are CONSECRATED for LOFTY USE, HIS USE; FOR, and TO HIS GLORY, and our ultimate reward is to SHARE IN HIS GLORY, as glory, forevermore!!!

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

2 TIMOTHY 2: 19-22...
19/ Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who are his"; and, "Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord avoid evil."
20/ In a large household there are vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for lofty and others for humble use.
21/ If anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for lofty use, dedicated, beneficial to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22/ So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith,love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart.