HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: FOLLOWING CHRIST JESUS IS BEING PROACTIVE, ALWAYS...

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...

SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: FOLLOWING CHRIST JESUS IS BEING PROACTIVE, ALWAYS...

There is no distinction; we are all sinners in a sinful world, YET, THE LORD *GOD*, CHRIST JESUS, shall cause a distinction between those whom perish with the world, or not! One has to WANT their soul to be ETERNALLY BLESSED; one has to WANT to come to terms with their carnal being vs. their spiritual being; one has to WANT THE LORD to lead them, teach them, guide them, direct them, protect them, and bring them into fulfillment of HIS WILL, and all of this desire MUST be sincere, and FAITHFUL unto HIM---

FAITHFULNESS IS FIDELITY, obedience, and self-control, FOR HIS GLORY, and to please HIM, instead of appeasing the flesh, the world, and the lies therein! When FAITH IS TRUE, FAITHFULNESS ensues, and grows, as we learn, and develop into whom HE CREATED us to be, REFLECTIONS OF HIM, HIS LIGHT, HIS LOVE, and HIS HOLINESS...

At the onset of the DECISION TO FOLLOW HIM, FOR REAL, it is VERY difficult to change the mind, the habits, and the chosen ways we are used to existing in, STILL, the diligent REMAIN IN HIM, and committed to do so, even though they are tripped all the while, and fall here, and there! It BECOMES IMPORTANT TO become our REALITY which IS Children of the SOVEREIGN, and MOST HIGH *GOD*, as we ALLOW HIM to work in us, through us, and around us towards our TRUTH which IS bound in RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOODNESS, and JUSTNESS! We AIM to SEE ourselves as HE HAS MADE us, and FOR the purposes HE HAS for us...

IF we are IN CHRIST JESUS, we are DEAD to the world, therefore, we leave as much of the world behind as is feasible, more, more, and more, as we DISCOVER our 'NEW' reality, though it was always there! We give up what enslaved us to the world, no matter how difficult that might be, or at least, we EVER aspire to relinquish the holds such has on us, as we PRAY for HIM to bring us through! SOME holds are easier to rid of than others, no doubt, but ALL CAN be eradicated IF we so WANT them to, and understand their dangers, and utter worthlessness TO whom we truly are...

Addictions, lusts, greed, envy, sloth, wrath, gluttony, and pride COME by way of the world, and lack of self-control! The MIND HAS the power to withstand them, or to be subjected to them. In ALL matters CHOICES determine our state of existence, AND the future of our souls! The evil world HAS affected us, and HAS misled us; it IS the same game as in the garden of Eden; the slithering liar convinced the first two that no matter what, they would not suffer, for *GOD'S* LOVE would allow for their wrongs! Listen, HIS LOVE IS PURE, YET, HE HAS TOLD us THE WAY IT IS, that IF we are TRUE TO HIM, we are BLESSED, but IF we are NOT, we are CURSED!!!

HE GAVE us the world, no doubt, but NOT to destroy it, or others, or ourselves, instead to CARE for EVERYTHING, and EVERYONE on this Earth! HE DESIGNATED us as caretakers, as workers of the soil, as builders, as PRODUCTIVE, CARING helpers to ALL on this planet! While we have accomplished much, we have also, especially in recent times, neglected more, and have destroyed too much, and WHY?, because the self prevails, even in those with knowledge of a BETTER, more CONSTRUCTIVE, and PROFITABLE way! It doesn't make any sense in retrospect, but given the falsehoods into which we are reared, we can see the roots that cause faulty growth...

Our PERCEPTION of humility IS WAY off, and IS totally defied AS we CHOOSE to be subject to what is of the world rather than that OF *GOD*, and what IS POSITIVELY suitable, and sufficient FOR existing in what is right, good, and just! We just DON'T WANT to prosper IF it means dying to the world, and it's ways...

Here are some KEY Scriptures to ponder, and take to heart, IF you are so inclined to TURN TO THE LORD *GOD*, and your TRUTH:
MATTHEW 16: 24-27
MATTHEW 24: 42-51
ROMANS 6: 15
ROMANS 8: 10
1 CORINTHIANS 6: 9
GALATIANS 4: 8-9
GALATIANS 5: 1 & 16-26
EPHESIANS 4 & 5: 1-21
PHILIPPIANS 4: 8-9
COLOSSIANS 3: 1-17
TITUS 2: 11-14

Of course there is more, but these ought to reiterate the NEED to step INTO CHRIST JESUS as we should, and could, IF we would heed HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, and HIS WORD!!!

Christianity IS PROACTIVE, NOT just a thought, or a profession; IT IS A CHOICE TO BE FREE, ALIVE, and SERVING THE LORD *GOD*, and others! NOTHING IN our days is easy, and surely, FOLLOWING CHRIST is difficult, YET, the MORE we adapt TO HIS WILL, the less challenging it is, AND it ENHANCES us IN EVERY way, for THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS welcome, and inclined to work IN us, around us, and through us!!!

THIS time on Earth is NOT about us; it IS an EXODUS TO TRUE LIFE, and THE KINGDOM, and THE GLORY OF *GOD*, which we can either be ONE with, or not! The ball IS in our court, for THE LORD HAS DONE HIS work, and HAS GIVEN us THE WAY TO FOLLOW, and so, decisions, decisions, decisions, EACH of which HAS consequences, now, later, and forever!!!

LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

STUDY, SEEK HIS WISDOM, FEAR HIM, REVERE HIM, PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE IN HIM, GIVE THANKS, BE GRATEFUL, HONOUR HIM IN your ways, all of your days, DO GOOD, BE GOOD, GLORIFY HIM as you SHINE OF HIS GLORY FOR all those lost in the darkness to notice, and be inspired by, THAT they may COME TO HIM! BE DILIGENT, BE ATTENTIVE TO HIS WILL, and MOVE FORWARD IN HIS NAME! BLESSED ARE those who KNOW HIM, and CHOOSE TO BE WITH HIM!!!