HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE NEED FOR A SAVIOUR...

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...

THE NEED FOR A SAVIOUR...

AMEN! Although few are those who understand that need, and fewer who would admit to having such a need! But TRUTH IS that we MUST be SAVED from ourselves, and the evil of CREATION, since we function loosely on what we see, hear, taste, feel, smell, or perceive---

TITUS 2: 11-14...

11+++For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12+++instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

13+++looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

14+++who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel, is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it.

An earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly calling. It teaches to make conscience of that which is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the object of our hope and worship. A gospel conversation must be a godly conversation. See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer's heart, with all their hinderances. It teaches to look for the glories of another world.

At, and in, the glorious appearing of Christ, the blessed hope of Christians will be complete: To bring us to holiness and happiness was the end of Christ's death. Jesus Christ, that great God and our Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him! Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be to abound in real good works.

Pride and sin ARE enmity with *GOD*; they separate us from HIM, WHOM CREATED us FOR HIMSELF! NEVER were we made to exist wrongly, or against HIM; that came OF the world, and of our own choice! Mankind fell to temptation shortly after coming into the world, and has struggled since, THUS THE NEED for a SAVIOUR THAT we are NOT forever separated from HIM, NOR our rightful home! Free will IS necessary to the purpose of HONEST, and TRUTHFUL ONENESS with THE LORD *GOD*; in other words, instead of being forced to receive HIM, those who SEEK HIM, LOVE HIM, and KNOW HIM willfully do so, while the rest deny, and defy HIM! In the meantime, the evil of this realm, which is extensive, meddles, stirs up, and plots FOR the purpose of delusion, confusion, and refusal of THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and so, in our thrashed state, a SAVIOUR IS NECESSARY, otherwise, all would perish! Though a person has every intention to FOLLOW THE LORD, there are endless traps to trip us up, but the heart is known to *GOD*, so HE LEADS the willing on THE PATH, despite the constant slipping, and tripping, to their PROMISED inheritance!!!

BY GRACE and MERCY ARE we SAVED, yet, by DILIGENCE, and DETERMINATION DO we FOLLOW HIM! We could NOT do this on our own, we are NOT equipped to manage the onslaught of wickedness which intends to destroy us eternally, STILL we HAVE our DUTIES, and ROLES IN being SANCTIFIED, and MADE WHOLE; FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of others, mainly, those LOST in the world!!!

It IS THE season to celebrate our SAVIOUR, CHRIST JESUS, our LORD *GOD*, and to renew our oneness WITH HIM, as we study, learn, and adapt TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and HIS WORD! Let us PRAISE HIM ALWAYS, let us WORSHIP HIM FULLY; let us REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE, and LOVING KINDNESS FOR us, and TOWARDS us; let us HONOUR HIM in ALL of our ways, ALL of our days; let us GIVE THANKS, BE GRATEFUL, and APPRECIATIVE; let us SHINE OF HIM, our LORD, our KING, our LIFE! HALLELUJAH TO OUR BEAUTIFUL, GLORIOUS SAVIOUR EVERMORE!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS