HEAVENLY INCLINED...: DISOBEDIENCE, IDOLATRY, & DISREGARD = RETRIBUTION...

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...

DISOBEDIENCE, IDOLATRY, & DISREGARD = RETRIBUTION...

Throughout history of humanity, idolatry has prevailed, and that in part, due to lack of knowledge, understanding, and/or self-control. Many are those who imagine that idolatry is simply, bowing, or paying reverence to a statute, or some man made thing, but, it runs far deeper than that, indeed---

Paul says, “Covetousness, which is idolatry.” (COLOSSIANS 3: 5-6)---So what idolatry looks like today is the activity of the human heart. This is not a deed of the body. That follows — a fruit on a branch. It starts in the heart: craving, wanting, enjoying, being satisfied by anything that you treasure more than God. That is an idol.

And the root of that idol IS PRIDE; as we place significance on sating the being OVER pleasing *GOD*! We KNOW that PRIDE IS what separates us from *GOD*, yet, we don't consider the countless factors which comprise PRIDE! We think of it in one context, and totally ignore that the makings of PRIDE ARE boundless when left unbridled, especially in the conditions where someone REALLY enjoys themselves in this world...

In this day, cast to the winds are morals, standards, principles, civility, integrity, ethics, respect, regard, and much more which tends to lead us towards self-control, AND it IS beginning to show signs of coming to a point of reckoning; first with THE LORD *GOD*, then with the state of our existence! We barely honour each other, let alone *GOD*, or what is HOLY, or what is right, just, and good, thus, there IS a day coming, which is already exposing itself, when we WILL be shown the powder train of consequences, believe it!!!

We HAVE been given examples of the MANY times the ancients disregarded THE LORD, and HIS WILL, and each other, along with the behaviours which allow humanity to flourish, and thrive! I guess FEAR OF *GOD* means nothing to but a few, or it is true that many don't consider THE WORD OF *GOD* to be accurate, or imperative TO existence, now, and eternally...

Idolatry IS whatever you desire MORE than THE LORD, and what is right! It begins with SELF-INCLINATION, which IS PRIDE, and spans out in your time on this Earth! Right now, we have abomination's galore, rampant self-importance, immorality, depravity, and well, the list is growing day by day, as people lose sight of what is REAL, and TRUE, and OF our CREATOR, and so, be aware of the results, for they are now appearing, and will increase...

FAITH is preached as enough, but I tell you, over and over, FAITH IS FAITHFULNESS, and IN that, IS obedience TO *GOD*, and HIS WILL, and HIS WAY! IF you claim CHRIST JESUS AS your SAVIOUR, and LORD, you KNOW you are to die to the world, that you HAVE LIFE IN HIM, and that is NOT a metaphor, IT IS A WAY OF EXISTENCE, NOW, and FOREVER!!!

There are LOTS of references to the FURY, and WRATH of THE LORD *GOD*, and of nations suffering when they abandon HIM, and ignore HIM! I, like others, AM noticing that things are happening, bit by bit, and urge ALL to THINK, and consider what we are up against, should HE FULLY vent HIS anger! It IS, not only WISE to do so, it is for the sake of souls, and for the bettering of existence, here, and later, in eternity! The following is just one reference that we might ponder, and take to heart, and use as a reminder of our TRUTH IN HIS CREATION...

The next hour might not arrive, let alone tomorrow, and even if by the WILL of *GOD*, they do, what we are spinning is a web we WILL be caught up in, especially if we ignore HIM, and continue in our wayward ways, SO, let us TRULY examine ourselves, and what we are producing as we go farther, and farther FROM HIM!!!

JEREMIAH 7: 20-28...
20+++Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, My anger, My fury, will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and the produce of the land, and it will burn and not be extinguished.
21+++This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
22+++For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices,
23+++but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.
24+++Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
25+++From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again.
26+++Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.
27+++When you tell them all these things, they will not listen to you. When you call to them, they will not answer.
28+++Therefore you must say to them: This is the nation that would not listen to the voice of the LORD their God and would not receive correction. Truth has perished; it has disappeared from their lips.

The Jews took pride in showing zeal for their idols. Let us learn to be earnest in the service of our God, even from this bad example. Let us think it an honour to be employed in any work for God. Let us be as diligent ourselves, and as careful to teach our children the truths of God, as many are to teach the mysteries of iniquity. The direct tendency of this sin is malice against God, but it will hurt themselves. And they shall find there is no escaping. God's wrath is fire unquenchable.

God shows that obedience was required of them. That which God commanded was, Hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord thy God. The promise is very encouraging. Let God's will be your rule, and his favour shall be your happiness. God was displeased with disobedience. We understand the gospel as little as the Jews understood the law, if we think that even the sacrifice of Christ lessens our obligation to obey.

REALIZE that WHEN the WRATH does alight, there WON'T be a chance to change, as you HAVE KNOWN what THE LORD *GOD* wants of you, and HAVE discounted it...

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