WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM: BUDDING GRACE IN HIS LIKENESS; READYING FOR HIS GLORY...

Living in GRACE is literal, it is active; it is not vague, passive, nor to be taken lightly! We are to be readying for THE LORD, as in MATTHEW 24, and LUKE 12, and in varying messages from Paul, Timothy, and so forth...

To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind which we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment.

Our Lord's coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not.

If a man, professing to be the servant of Christ, be an unbeliever, covetous, ambitious, or a lover of pleasure, he will be cut off. Those who choose the world for their portion in this life, will have hell for their portion in the other life.

May our Lord, when he cometh, pronounce us blessed, and present us to the Father, washed in his blood, purified by his Spirit, and fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

We are to grow in grace and knowledge of our LORD CHRIST JESUS (2 PETER 3:18):

From the doctrine of Christ's second coming, we are exhorted to purity and godliness. This is the effect of real knowledge. Very exact and universal holiness is enjoined, not resting in any low measure or degree.

True Christians look for new heavens and a new earth; freed from the vanity to which things present are subject, and the sin they are polluted with. Those only who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall be admitted to dwell in this holy place. He is faithful, who has promised.

Those, whose sins are pardoned, and their peace made with God, are the only safe and happy people; therefore follow after peace, and that with all men; follow after holiness as well as peace. Never expect to be found at that day of God in peace, if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work given us to do. Only the diligent Christian will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord.

Our Lord will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to him; and shall he find us idle? Learn to make a right use of the patience of our Lord, who as yet delays his coming.

Proud, carnal, and corrupt men, seek to wrest some things into a seeming agreement with their wicked doctrines. But this is no reason why St. Paul's epistles, or any other part of the Scriptures, should be laid aside; for men, left to themselves, pervert every gift of God. Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood.

But there must be self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors.

Those who are led away by error, fall from their own steadfastness. And that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after, and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, for ever.

Where GRACE is found, righteousness does abound, naturally, in our regeneration! When the GRACE of THE SPIRIT is working in us, it is only reasonable that we act in that GRACE, and become grace! ALL which is of THE LORD works together, as one, to fulfill HIS WILL, and SHINE of HIS TRUTH!!!

THE LORD'S GRACE is PURE, and SURE, our grace is manifested upon HIS GRACE, and needs to be worked, that it is ever improved, and REFLECTS HIM in our heart, our mind, our thoughts, our actions, and reactions; it is taking ON HIM, and becoming as much like HIM as is feasible! We CAN'T do this alone, though we can hinder the process by not being sincere, and full of that which marks HIS own! While it should not be that we go to extremes, it should not be that we don't welcome what HE inspires in us! Living in grace is being OPEN to HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, and carrying what HE inspires in us, by means of knowledge, understanding, gifts, and more, out into the world, as evidence of HIM in the world!!!

There is much to these matters, as there exists components, constituents, factors, and varied degrees in the understanding of GRACE, and knowledge of CHRIST, which we will discuss in more detail in future posts!! 

REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

BLESS THE LORD; PRAISE HIM ALWAYS; WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS; REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE of us; HONOUR HIM in ALL ways, ALL of our days; THANK HIM; and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, for HIS every assistance, for others, and for your own way!!!