HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: IDOLATRY...

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...

TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: IDOLATRY...

Every day, someone will die from what they most LOVE...

Each day, hour by hour, people die lost in their LOVE of particular things, even in their LOVE of life. People perish from their overuse of drugs, alcohol, greed, gluttony, and on it goes. Some of these people claim to LOVE *GOD*, yet they could NOT find the will to LOVE HIM MORE than their fleshy appetites...

This is idolatry, plain, and simple; when anything receives more LOVE, adoration, or fixation than THE LORD, one is idolatrous; unfaithful TO HIM, and to HIS WILL...

It doesn't seem that too many people have a clear understanding of idolatry, nor that it begins, and ends in the heart! The world is full of idolatry; it IS so commonplace, there IS much complacency surrounding it, and widespread acceptance. This endangers ALL, for the 1ST COMMANDMENT of *GOD* was NOT spoken in vain, instead, because HE KNOWS well, the hearts of humanity, and the struggle we face as the enemy entices, deceives, and mystifies us with the same old scam as the one he delivered to Eve in the garden, which branched out into every feasible area of life on this Earth, THE LORD URGES us to gain knowledge enough to depart from such. We are advised to seek HIM OVER all else..

IDOLATRY...
1. the religious worship of idols.
2. excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc.

Idolatry extends beyond the worship of idols and images and false gods. Our modern idols are many and varied. Even for those who do not bow physically before a statue, idolatry is a matter of the heart—pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, a love for possessions and ultimately rebellion against God.

So idolatry is not just venerating a statue, carving or painting. Idolatry occurs when we begin to value anything more than we value God. If we spend more time thinking about our hero than God, that's idolatry. If our every thought is about the latest gadget or our personal appearance, that's idolatry. If the first priority in our lives is our family, even that's idolatry.

When God said, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus:20:3), He wasn't just talking about the imaginary deities that seem so ridiculous to us today. He was talking about anything that usurps His place as number one in our hearts. The solution to this problem is as simple (and as difficult) as Christ's admonition in Matthew:6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

Everything else must come after.

People are WILLING to die in their choices; this is idolatry at it's peak! What IF *GOD* came to you today, and said, "Do you LOVE me enough to give up your vices?" HOW would you react? Would you be like some who claim to LOVE HIM MORE than anything else, and yet die from what you just WON'T pull yourself away from? This is important, as it gives us an idea of exactly WHERE we place THE LORD in our lives! Not long ago, a famous person was strung out as strung out can be from drugs, all the while declaring incontestable LOVE for THE LORD, yet this person could NOT find enough strength in that LOVE to leave behind what killed them, their use of drugs...

Too far over the top is the message that FAITH alone saves! IN FAITH, there MUST be FAITHFULNESS, point blank! FAITH without evidence of having died to the flesh is incomplete, and if it is because of things in this world that take precedence OVER *GOD*, then it is totally empty, and well, endangers the end goal of the soul...

IF we LOVE *GOD*, we are RENEWED BY HIM, and HE IS evidenced in our renewal of existence IN this time! We LEAVE things, and people behind which would indicate our clinging to the flesh, for we KNOW we are NOT of this world, therefore we are NOT subject to what is of it! We are NOT DOMINATED by worldly things, instead, our FOCUS, and ATTENTION lies in PLEASING THE LORD, IMPROVING the being, and CONTENDING for the crown of life! We LEAVE our idols behind in favour of what is waiting for us in THE KINGDOM!!!

There is a lot in THE WORD about idolatry, yet it is one of the most pushed under the rug matters there is, that people might be able to live in the flesh, and in *GOD*, which is NOT possible! One CANNOT serve two Masters, and this also, has been given lesser significance than intended! What we LOVE IS OBVIOUS by our allegiance, and so, IF alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, greed, gluttony, and other such RULE our lives, our TRUTH IS VISIBLY CLEAR!!!

WORSHIP BELONGS TO THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, in ALL reverence, determination, respect, regard, and intent of understanding, and embracing! HE ALONE CAN SAVE us, and heal us, and lead us THROUGH the valley which hopes to swallow us up! Idolatry IS enmity to *GOD*, and HIS WRATH IS invoked by it!!!

When we are seeking THE KINGDOM, we are BUSY enough to remain FREE from what would chain us to the world, AND we are BLESSED according to HIS WILL, as we are receiving that which enables, endows, enlightens, empowers, and encourages us! Don't be a follower of the world, of things, ONLY OF CHRIST! Don't worry about what society says or does, ONLY worry about THE WILL OF *GOD*, and all will be well for you, and your soul!!!

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