HEAVENLY INCLINED...: BE HOSPITALABLE...

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...

BE HOSPITALABLE...

Being hospitable IS one of the most imperative behaviours of the devout, but one which has slipped through the cracks in recent decades. Hospitality goes hand in hand with generosity of spirit, compassion, and the rest of the virtuous sharing of THE SPIRIT---

All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. Not only must there be kindness to friends and brethren, but Christians must not harbour anger against enemies. It is but mock love, which rests in words of kindness, while our brethren need real supplies, and it is in our power to furnish them. Be ready to entertain those who do good: as there is occasion, we must welcome strangers. Bless, and curse not. It means thorough good will; not, bless them when at prayer, and curse them at other times; but bless them always, and curse not at all. True Christian love will make us take part in the sorrows and joys of each other. Labour as much as you can to agree in the same spiritual truths; and when you come short of that, yet agree in affection...

There are at least 100 BIBLE references to hospitality! Some say that hospitality is more than a gift, or an optional activity, it is a command! IF we LOVE as *GOD* has LOVED us, that would make sense, for LOVE IS embodied deeply in hospitality, as it is in generosity of spirit! It IS a grace which REFLECTS HIS GRACE, and is free of discrimination, distinctions, or partiality!!!

Surely, it IS difficult to exist wholly in fairness, in virtue, in all which depicts our ONENESS with THE LORD, but then again, no pain, no gain, AND it IS POSSIBLE TO do so! It is because of our being raised in the world, practically void of HIM, and HIS WILL that we struggle to align fully to HIS WAYS, YET, it CAN be done, and SHOULD be a priority, for such is the TRUTH of who HE CREATED us to be...

These times find many or most, lacking in grace, and in the crucial behaviours which SHINE OF HIM that the world might SEE HIM, in which case, some of that is unconscious adapting to the world, and some of it is careless abandonment of what we KNOW is right, just, and good, as we enjoin in the matters at hand, which is NOT fitting of HIS people, but happens anyway, and more frequently, or more readily, without reminders, or diligence to LEARNING, and ROOTING IN HIS WORD!!!

GOOD WORKS correspond perfectly with FAITH; it is FAITHFULNESS ALIVE, and ACTIVE! Good works ARE representative of our relationship, and kinship WITH THE LORD *GOD*! Good works ARE contrary to most of the worlds ways, and rightfully so, for it is NOT that what is good is wrong, it IS that what is bad IS wrong, and we should NOT be aligning to what falls short of *GOD*!!!

It IS concerning when you have so many people rejecting others based upon opinion, inclinations, and feelings, in which there is NO virtue involved! Virtues OPTIMIZE existence, and HEAL wounds of the human condition! They are RIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE TRUTH OF WISDOM VIA THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and because they WORK FOR THE GOOD OF ALL! HE IS THE LORD, NONE of us are; not even close, and truly, one can assume why!!!

Right now, in this day, neighborliness is nearly extinct, unless those nearby find you agreeing with their ways, or find you to be like them! This destroys dialogue, advancement, and productivity in general life, all the way through to matters like government! There is NO warmth, consideration, or acceptance of anyone whom rubs another the wrong way, or does not fit the narrative, or the predetermined ideal! This is not only wrong, it LIMITS ALL, and EVERYTHING!!!

BEING hospitable sees us accepting INDIVIDUALS WHO *GOD* MADE for whom and what they are! DOING SO OPENS doors, discussions, and paves the way for a wholesome existence for ALL, not some! Somewhere along the line, ME became prominent, and acceptable, but BY THE LORD, this is NOT close to reality, or TRUTH...

WHO wants to exist in a world where all are the same? I DON'T! I WON'T! *GOD* MADE me who I am FOR HIS WILL, and PLAN, and NO ONE on Earth can take that, or alter that, UNLESS I ALLOW them to, which I won't, because NONE is better, NOR more worthy than the next, and ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE LORD! LET people BE themselves, WHILE being fair, just, and open to what they might bring to the table; they ARE here for a reason, and your opinion CANNOT undo that fact!!!

CHRIST JESUS IS THE EPITOME of hospitality, as were many of the people throughout BIBLICAL history! HE CAME TO SERVE, and we ARE to do likewise! Alas, the ways of the world have led us far away from TRUTH, and even compassion, especially in this late date, though it is NEVER too late, as long as we have this *GOD* GIVEN day!!!

That LOVE is waxing cold is an understatement; it surely is! The hearts of many people have become cold, and with the trend to denounce THE LORD, and piety, it will only see more with hard hearts, and even harder heads...

ALL people ARE flawed, and have dysfunctions, but who would know it from the crowds whom assume they are above all that?! We ARE much more common to one another than not, yet, you wouldn't know it by the constant judging, and condemnation by far too many! To reject others is to stagnate oneself, and to hinder growth, advancement, and everything which is necessary to thriving, and flourishing, and yah, MOST of us reject others, sometimes without knowing why! We are misled by what has been taught to us by a carnal world, however, we ignore what THE SPIRIT would teach us, and lead us rightfully in!!!

JESUS told HIS Disciples to enter towns, and homes, and offer them peace, in which case, if those rejected it, then to shake the dust from their feet, and move on! The point is we OFFER EVERYONE what is right, just, and good, and if it is not received, we move on, and their rejection falls back upon them...

In these trying, chaotic times, there IS GREAT NEED for compassion, kindness, gentleness, tolerance, forbearance, understanding, hospitality, generosity of spirit, and whatever is good, just, and right, BECAUSE such heals, restores, renews, rejuvenates, replenishes, advances, and leads us to better times, all of which IS EASY to share with others, even if they might not 'get' it, or refuse it! Standards and principles exist FOR the good of everyone, and even for the good of the entire Earth, and all on it, despite the ignorance involving OUR ROLE in all of this...

HATE SOURS, and ROTS EVERYTHING, and EVERYONE; there is NOTHING good, or profitable to come from it, and not only that, it is exhausting, and emptying to the very depths of one of who chooses to exist in it! LOVE on the other hand, CAUSES WHOLESOMENESS for EVERYTHING, and EVERYONE, and IS EASY to exist in, with ENDLESS BENEFITS, and SATISFACTION! I hope today, some will consider the TRUTH, and CHOOSE to align to *GOD*, LOVE, HOPE, and PEACE, for TRULY, this IS our ONLY FACTUAL FREEDOM!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS