HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WASTE NOT THE 'GIFT' OF TIME..

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...

WASTE NOT THE 'GIFT' OF TIME..

Not enough people see the correlation and wisdom in this statement---

TIME is FAR more precious than money! WHY? Because it IS limited, AND IS a GIFT from *GOD*, AND IF we are ONE WITH HIM, our time is to be used FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of others! Our time IS to be used TO REFLECT HIM THAT darkness is diminished, and eventually eradicated; that is, our time is best spent bringing the lost TO HIM, FOR HIS GLORY, and the eternal sake of souls! We CANNOT DO our work WHEN we spend our precious time in the world, and it's ways, for then, we ARE distracted, and engaged in such...

Not only are other souls at risk, if we place importance on the world OVER *GOD*, our own is too! It is amazing how LITTLE we are taught about diligence, deliberation, and focus; in other words Devotion, by those entrusted to teach, to preach, to reach, and so, no wonder that too many are confused by such statements as the one above!!!

WHAT is DEVOTION? Let us look into this:
Noun
Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause: "Eleanor's devotion to her husband" · "his courage and devotion to duty never wavered"
Synonyms: loyalty · faithfulness · fidelity · constancy · commitment · adherence · allegiance · dedication · fondness · love · admiration · affection · care

Religious worship or observance:"the order's aim was to live a life of devotion"
Synonyms: devoutness · piety · religiousness · spirituality · godliness · holiness · sanctity

(Devotions)
Prayers or religious observances.
Synonyms: religious worship · worship · religious observance · prayers · prayer meeting · church service

EACH of these descriptors ARE applicable TO our walk with THE LORD *GOD*, and EACH of them HE COMMANDS of our heart! Since we are PARTNERS TO THE COVENANT, hence TO HIS WILL, and PLAN, our PURPOSE(S) ARE ALIGNED TO Devotion, diligence, and deliberation, THAT we ARE WILLING vessels FOR HIS USE!!!

The world HAS STRONG holds on us, HOWEVER, IF we BELIEVE we HAVE DIED with CHRIST JESUS, we REALIZE that these holds are false! They are only as strong as WE ALLOW them to be IN our participation in the world, and in worldly ways, WHILE ignoring the weightier matters of THE SPIRITUAL WORK which IS PART, and PARCEL TO our partnership with *GOD*!!!

Right at this moment, there are MILLIONS of people who claim CHRIST JESUS as their LORD, and SAVIOUR, engaging in ways unproductive of their CALLING, as they spend time debating, arguing, fussing, and fighting with worldly beings, instead of working through their own Salvation, and bringing THE LORD to the lost, hungry, needy, lonely, downtrodden, Widows, and all those who NEED HIM, thus, us! OUR WORK IS continual, it IS imperative, and it IS crucial TO souls, and HIS GLORY!!!

Christians ARE to bring GLORY TO *GOD* IN EVERY WAY feasible, AND to snatch souls from the enemy! Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 CORINTHIANS 10: 31)! According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies...

Learning to prioritize time is beneficial IN our relationship with THE LORD; in that we find the will, means, and end to SERVING HIM, then others, WHILE growing, developing, and maturing into whom we really are, IN HIS NAME! Just consider HOW much time we waste on the world's ways, and woes, WHEN we COULD be, and SHOULD be, speaking, acting, and reacting according TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS PLAN, HIS WORD! What a difference KNOWLEDGE makes, and how greatly it protects us, as well as, provides for us!!!

There are 22 BIBLE verses about wasting time, 31 about using it effectively, and 100 concerning time! One such is: Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men (COLOSSIANS 3: 23)...

Yah, THE GOOD LORD GAVE us free will, but in doing so, HE HOPES that we choose wisely according TO HIS WILL...

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS