HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MY DUTY TO LOVE...

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...

MY DUTY TO LOVE...

Here is a partial list of characteristics which mark a *GODLY* person, and, most of these can be broken down into even greater detail, or, components...

Abstinent
Adoring
Believing
Brave
Courageous
Charitable
Chaste
Compassionate
Conscientious
Constant
Consistent
Confident
Calm
Controlled
Correcting
Diligent
Deliberate
Discerning
Eager
Earnest
Empathetic
Faithful
Fearing
Fidelity
Focused
Good
*GODLY*
Giving
Gracious
Grateful
Glorifying
Heartfelt
Hopeful
Hospitable
Honest
Humble
Honourable
Involved
Irrevocable
Just
Kind
Loving
Meek
Mannered
Moral
Monogamous
Merciful
Neighborly
Nice
Obedient
Open
Peaceful
Persevering
Praying
Prudent
Practicing
Repenting
Resistant
Respectful
Regarding
Righteous
Selfless
Spiritual
Surrendered
Succumbed
Steadfast
Strong
Teachable
Trusted
Trusting
Truthful
Unfeigned
Unshakable
Unstoppable
Virtuous
Willful
Worshiping
Zealous

Like I said, this is only PART of the whole of what is comprised of HOLINESS! Take LOVING, and, virtuous, for example, and, you will find vast components in each, which should be studied, learned, and, applied to your walk with *GOD*! It is amazing when it is broken down, just how much being righteous involves! It is boggling, yet, such IS what *GOD* expects of HIS CHOSEN!!!

No one said it was easy, but, from what we have heard, or, learned this far, the meat of the matter has been greatly trimmed! I found each of these characteristics in the BIBLE, then, went to the back indexes, and, jotted them all down, to SHOW that IT DOES take CONSCIOUS EFFORT to BE a Child of *GOD*! No doubt, HE KNOWS we will NEVER fulfill such high expectations, HOWEVER, again, EFFORT accounts for a large part of the battle! It HAS to, otherwise, NO ONE would be of HIS ELECT!!!

When the BIBLE says to FEAR *GOD*, I am sure that the weight of characteristics to pleasing HIM is inclusive to that statement, don't you? Wow! Extensive is the work HE placed before us, and, the bad thing is, none of us were taught PROPERLY, therefore, by the time we get wind of all that is involved, we are at risk! Again, EFFORT accounts for a portion of the lot, especially when coupled with sincerity, honesty, and, deliberation to perfecting what is so imperfect!!!

Guess what? The above characteristics/qualities already exist within you, you only need to awaken to them, develop them, and, live within them; this is where free will comes to play, giving you the choice to come around, or, to ignore what *GOD* commands of us. HE doesn't even expect you to do it all at one time, HE allows for us to develop along the way, that we learn, surely, the full breadth of 'turning' to HIM! GENIUS IS OUR LORD, *GOD*!!!

It is written that *GOD* will be MERCIFUL to whom HE chooses to be MERCIFUL to, but there could not be a more positive declaration of these truths,
(1) That he does it as a sovereign, without giving an account of the reason of his choice to any.
(2) that he does it without regard to any claim on the part of man; or that man is regarded as destitute of merit, and as having no right to his mercy.
(3) that he will do it to any extent which he pleases, and in whatever time and manner may best accord with his own good pleasure.
(4) that he has regard to a definite number and that on that number he intends to bestow eternal life; and,
(5) That no one has a right to complain.
It is proof of his benevolence that any are saved; and where none have a claim, where all are justly condemned, he has a right to pardon whom he pleases...

It IS ALL about *GOD*, HIS WILL, and, HIS GLORY, but, HE IS a most GRACIOUS, FORGIVING, MERCIFUL *GOD*, whom has declared, "Return to me", says the LORD of hosts, "and I will return to you", says the LORD of hosts...

Bottom line, people, it is a matter of LOVING HIM enough to maintain HOPE in HIS promises, by becoming as close to what HE requires of us, and, FOCUSING on the end goal, while not being overwhelmed by getting there, instead, happily walking that straight, and, narrow path TO the end!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
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