HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS: DUTIES TOWARDS *GOD* & TRUSTING HIM...

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...

SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS: DUTIES TOWARDS GOD & TRUSTING HIM...

There are WISDOM BOOKS which are not embraced by particular Denominations, yet, accepted or not, who can deny the crucial messages therein???

Certain Scholars have determined what is the *GOD* breathed WORD, or not, and so, some ancient BOOKS of THE BIBLE have been cast aside. The BOOK of SIRACH is one such BOOK which is not included in some denominations, though it is rich in many areas of instruction, and understanding, and which I feel, has some imperative messages concerning this time, and the events of this time: ALL works together, like threads of a tapestry, from beginning to end, FOR our good, and HIS GLORY, PRAISE THE LORD...

SIRACH 2...
1/ My son, if you come to serve the Lord,
Prepare your soul for temptation.
2/ Set your heart aright, and constantly endure,
And make not haste in time of calamity.
3/ Cleave to him, and depart not,
That you may be increased at your latter end.
4. Accept whatever is brought upon you,
And be long-suffering when you passest into humiliation.
5/ For gold is tried in the fire,
And acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
6/ Put your trust in him, and he will help you:
Order your ways aright, and set your hope on him.
7/ You that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
And turn not aside, lest you fall.
8/ You that fear the Lord, put your trust in him;
And your reward shall not fail.
9/ You that fear the Lord, hope for good things,
And for eternal gladness and mercy.
10. Look at the generations of old, and see:
Who did ever put his trust in the Lord, and was ashamed?
Or who did abide in his fear, and was forsaken?
Or who did call upon him, and he despised him?
11/ For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy;
And he forgives sins, and saves in time of affliction.
12/ Woe to fearful hearts, and to faint hands,
And to the sinner that goes two ways!
13/ Woe to the faint heart! for it believes not;
Therefore shall it not be defended.
14/ Woe to you that have lost your patience!
And what will you do when the Lord shall visit you?
15/ They that fear the Lord will not disobey his words;
And they that love him will keep his ways.
16/ They that fear the Lord will seek his good pleasure;
And they that love him shall be filled with the law.
17/ They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts,
And will humble their souls in his sight,
18/ saying,
We will fall into the hands of the Lord,
And not into the hands of men:
For as his majesty is,
So also is his mercy.

Serving the Lord is not without its trials; but no matter what happens, the genuine believer will remain sincere, steadfast, and faithful. Misfortune and humiliation are means of purification to prove one’s worth.

Ben Sira believed that patience and unwavering trust in God are ultimately rewarded with the benefits of God’s mercy and of lasting joy. A stern warning to those who compromise their faith in time of affliction; they fail in courage and trust and therefore have no security. But those who fear the Lord through obedience, reverence, love, and humility find his “mercy equal to his majesty”.

a. [2:1] 2 Tm 3:10–12.
b. [2:5] Prv 17:3; Wis 3:6; Is 48:10; 1 Pt 1:7.
c. [2:10] Ps 31:2; 145:18–20.
d. [2:15] Jn 14:23.
e. [2:18] Sir 17:29.