HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE GRACIOUS CHRISTIAN...

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 GRACIOUS CHRISTIAN...

A serious Christian is like an energy; exuding POSITIVITY, wholesomeness, goodness, and, LOVE! They should be able to develop rapport with anyone in this life, never being over-bearing, intimidating, callous, crass, nor aggressive! They should be kind, gentle, patience, tolerant, understanding, and, all things which encourage others, or, put them at ease! They should be able to spend time in the company of non-believers, without creating dissension, discord, or hostility! They should be able to tear down the walls of differences, with their behaviours, manners, and, characters, for they are to be patterned after THE LORD!!!

A mature Christian should be able to journey with non-believers, and, leave a lasting impression; the impression of THE LORD! Never should they imply that they are better, more righteous, nor any other behaviour seeming self-assuming! We are simply, to reflect HIM, THROUGH our understanding, and, growth, that, there MIGHT be greater understanding, and, direction for those who are not in HIM!!!

As a Christian, we should be able to intrigue the non-believer, to engage them, and, to inspire them! We should be able to sit in the company of foreign Kings/Queens, and, leave them impressed with our ethics, integrity, manners, and, with increased understanding of the beauty of CHRIST!!!

We are to be as lights of the world, guiding others, without self-assumption, to THE WAY! To do this effectively, one HAS to understand THE LORD, and, follow in HIS footsteps to the T! It should be understood that reception is optimal, and, rejection leaves nothing further to develop!!!

Can we sit in superiority, especially if we are not acting superiorly? NO WAY! Can we hope to create dialogue if we are aggressive, overbearing, and, overly zealous in our wish for others to come to THE LORD? NO WAY! You know, and, I know, that MANY Christians have done damage around the world, with their lack of graciousness, and, TRUE reflection of our LORD! This is a shame, because it has altered, greatly, the work at hand, setting obstacles where there were none, and, convincing those who do not believe, that their opinion of us, was correct!!!

KNOWING CHRIST is imperative to imitating HIM, and, to representing HIM! KNOWING HIS lovely nature, and, HIS PURE LOVE is an example for us to bend, shape, and form us into the sort of people who TRULY represent HIM, increasing the interest of HIM! We should also follow the lead of HIS Disciples, or, Apostles, for they laid the groundwork for the manner in which we are to live, think, act, and, react, before the world!!!

One must have great understanding in order to reveal HIM! One must be attuned to HIM! One must be, honestly, working the spirit towards maturity, because that maturity would place us in the courts of MANY!!!

CHRIST spent roughly, 30 years becoming mature, before HE set out to reach, teach, and, save the world! And, HE IS *GOD*! So, it is only logical that we have much to learn, much to work through, and, much to refine, before we can hope to follow HIS lead, but, that doesn't mean we can't be visible before the refinement is completed, though, we ought to THINK, and, act according TO HIS WAYS!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012