EPHESIANS 4: 1...
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended.
ROMANS 8: 28...
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
ROMANS 11: 29...
For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.
ROMANS 12: 1...
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
EPHESIANS 2: 10...
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
PHILIPPIANS 1: 27...
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
COLOSSIANS 1: 10...
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
COLOSSIANS 2: 6...
Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,
1 THESSALONIANS 2: 12...
We encouraged you and comforted you as we urged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
1 THESSALONIANS 4: 1...
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
FAITHFULNESS IS a TRANSFORMATION from worldly to HEAVENLY; a SHIFT in mentality, and a CONSCIENTIOUS effort TO PLEASE HIM OVER the self! It IS a COOPERATION on our part, THAT HE freely works in us, through us, and around us; which sees us NOW thinking, acting, and reacting AS citizens OF HEAVEN, and HIS HOLY CHOSEN people! NO!, it WON'T happen quickly, or fully, but that we ACKNOWLEDGE our PARTNERSHIP, and BLESSED STATE OF HIM PERFECTING us, IS compulsory!!!
SURELY, LOTS of Christians continue to exist in the world, and in HIM, but it is NOT feasible, NOR HIS WILL! You see WHEN we proclaim CHRIST JESUS as our LORD, and SAVIOUR, we nail the old self to the cross with HIM, and FOLLOW HIM, at least in the best of our understanding, and capacity, WHILE RELYING ON HIM TO PERFECT us! We DON'T GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BY clinging to the world, instead we OPEN UP TO HIS WORKS in us, AND exist as much LIKE HIM as we are able to, all the while PRAYING, PRAISING, WORSHIPING, and REJOICING, AND KEEPING HIM as our FOCUS, SIGHT, and LEAD!!!
We ARE to bear fruit, which means we NOW SHINE OF HIM, as we BE GOOD, and DO GOOD, as IS HIS WAY! In doing so, we thrive, and flourish, and INSPIRE others to take note of HIM IN us!!!
In our reverent duty as Christians our TRUTH IS SHOWN, and we grow into whom HE CREATED us to be! We HONOUR HIM IN OUR WAYS, for the rest of our days; NOT to impress, instead because we KNOW where we were wrong prior to our awakening, and the purposes involved in being REFLECTIONS OF HIM! Not only should we do everything to, and for HIS GLORY, but for the sake of those lost in the darkness, and whom are endangered eternally! AS HIS people, we ARE to be busy rectifying ourselves, and moving others to take notice OF HIM, that they might find HIM, and FOLLOW HIM too! We ARE to be improving ourselves from deep within, such as taming the tongue, existing kindly, patiently, tolerantly, gently, and earnestly IN THE WAY, as we look FORWARD to what is to come, and not back to what was!!!
People IGNORE much of the crucial instruction HE SO LOVINGLY compiled FOR our sake, AS they IMAGINE that change means being chained to what is stodgy, and mundane, HOWEVER, the opposite is true; those who won't TURN TO HIM, are the ones chained, and that, eternally, to an existence far more monotonous than they can imagine; you see whatever keeps you from THE LORD *GOD* IS the chain you will be imprisoned by forever, void of ever being free of it, SO, consideration SHOULD be given to THE TRUTH enough to make a choice...
ISAIAH 29: 13...
Therefore the Lord said, Since this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for lamentation and wonder. The learned men, through prejudice, said that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is lip-labour only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they are thinking of a thousand foolish things. They worship the God of Israel according to their own devices. Numbers are only formal in worship. And their religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings of mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God, so severely blamed. And those who make religion no more than a pretense, to serve a turn, deceive themselves. And as those that quarrel with God, so those that think to conceal themselves from him, in effect charge him with folly. But all their perverse conduct shall be entirely done away.
Let us spend this *GOD* GIVEN week contemplating our own self, and our fealty! Let us REALLY look within, and see IF we ARE FOLLOWING HIM in more than lip service! Let us THINK about the many errs we don't even try to part with, or curb! Let us increase our self-control in those matters, and behaviours which we might, and can! Let us TRULY HONOUR HIM BY BEING more, and better than before! Let us HONESTLY PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE, GIVE THANKS, BE GRATEFUL, SHARE HIS LOVE, and BE GOOD, RIGHT, and JUST, regardless of the world's influence, or pressures! All of this DOES matter, and IS part, and parcel TO OUR CALLING!!!
There WON'T be more of the same when THE LORD returns, and IF you wish to share eternity WITH HIM, exist NOW as if you have already entered the gates of HEAVEN, at least in heart, spirit, and the best of your knowledge, understanding, and ability, while obliging HIS works in you!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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