HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FAITHFULNESS: A MIGHTY UNDERTAKING...

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...

FAITHFULNESS: A MIGHTY UNDERTAKING...

What then, is FAITHFULNESS? *GOD* often compares our relationship with HIM, as that of a Marriage, demanding FIDELITY from us! Let's take a look at the definition of FAITHFUL...
1/ strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker.

2/ true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.

3/ steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends.

4/ reliable, trusted, or believed.

5/ adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: a faithful account; a faithful copy.

We KNOW that *GOD*/CHRIST is FAITHFUL without fail, and, that we ARE able to be FAITHFUL unto HIM, but that, the world's many allures, often take us far beyond our FAITHFULNESS! People can't even remain FAITHFUL to their Spouses, so how then, can they remain FAITHFUL to *GOD*/CHRIST???

REPENTANCE = To think differently, and, change what we were doing wrong = A change of heart!!! Remember, WITH *GOD*/CHRIST, NOTHING is impossible!!!

FAITHFULNESS is the LOVE we hold for *GOD* IN ACTION, through letter, and, deed, according TO HIS precepts, instructions, and, WILL! FAITHFULNESS is a surrendering of the carnal being, and, taking on the spiritual being! It is leaving the world's many allures behind, and, looking FORWARD to what lies ahead, WITH *GOD*/CHRIST! It is an ALLEGIANCE to *GOD*/CHRIST OVER all else, and, the proof of that allegiance in thought, action, and, reaction! It is NOT easy to accomplish, but, IS our goal!!!

CHRIST warns all who take up their cross, that THE WAY is difficult and narrow, requiring a great deal of vision and discipline to be FAITHFUL to HIS cause. Some have completed the course. Those who held *GOD* , and, HIS WAY, in the highest esteem in their lives, are awaiting those of us traveling the path now.

LUKE 6:46...
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command?

It all comes back to LOVE of HIM, LOVE of the TRUE self, the spirit, and, LOVE of others, in which, compliance, submission, surrender, respect, conformity, regard, honour, meekness, humility, and, duty = obedience TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS!!!

To develop this imperative FRUIT of THE SPIRIT, takes time, diligence, dedication, patience, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and, TRUE DESIRE of *GOD* OVER ALL ELSE! We are fickle, for the most part, but, we ARE proven to be quite FAITHFUL to what we determine to be vitally important to us, and so, FAITHFULNESS unto *GOD*/CHRIST, OUGHT to be priority ONE, because, being FAITHFUL to HIM, has the power to alter our lives, completely, which then, would see us, as FAITHFUL beings in ALL areas of existence!!!

READ: 2 TIMOTHY 3...

REV. LWINSOR © 2012

BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS