In this day, we have decisions to make, each pertaining to a certain aspect of our lives, and how much attention we give to each of these decisions is where the productivity arises from! The same is true of our walk with THE LORD, our *GOD*! HOW much ACTION we dedicate to knowing HIM, understanding HIM, imitating HIM, then SERVING HIM, is the evidence of our sincerity towards HIM...
There is a notion that we are free from SERVING HIM, and others; that we are free to live our lives in the way WE see fit, regardless! According to THE WORD, this is far from THE TRUTH, and is what KEEPS us unhappy, suffering, and without PEACE...
We are a Chosen race, a Royal Priesthood, thus, sanctified, and consecrated, meaning we are set apart, HOLY, purified, cleansed! We are to: let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Growth toward salvation is seen here as two steps: first, stripping away all that is contrary to the new life in Christ; second, the nourishment (pure spiritual milk) that the newly baptized have received. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God. See 1 PETER 2..
HE has told us to imitate HIM, and to be HOLY because HE IS HOLY:
1 PETER 1: 13-16...
13/ Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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."
OBVIOUSLY, our CONDUCT IS to REFLECT HIM, in EVERY aspect, for this is part, and parcel with THE GIFT, and with SHINING as HIS LIGHTS in the darkness, as well as being the salt of the Earth!!!
Therefore, our CENTERING, or FOCUSING upon HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS, IS paramount TO this gift of a day, as we LEARN THROUGH HIM, and with HIS help, HOW to disallow for the distractions that hinder, and endanger us; those that the deceiver USES against us, causing us many discomforts, discord, and disharmony...
We NEED to learn how to SET our minds on HOLY matters, throughout the day, that we are enlightened, enabled, empowered, enriched, and empowered THROUGH HIM, THE HOLY SPIRIT! The MORE we give to HIM, the more HE is invoked to favour us...
Humbleness plays a HUGE role in the matter of HIM as the CENTER of our lives, for in humility, we REALIZE that ALL we NEED comes forth of HIM, tangible, or intangible! When HE IS the FOCUS of our day, the day is less disrupted, less negative, less stressful to the being!!!
We are to DENY the flesh, in it's carnality, and egocentricity, and EMBRACE the TRUE self, the spirit! This means there is work to be done, because we have been raised in the world! We struggle to remain in the spirit, as we are enticed by the world on all fronts! This is where the distraction that hinders us derives from, thus, EACH day, we must RENEW our determination to HONOUR THE LORD by MAKING HIM the CENTER of our thoughts, actions, and reactions, while giving ATTENTION to the growth, and development of the spirit, THROUGH HIM, and HIS WILL, which means, diligence in LEARNING HIM, THROUGH HIS WORD, and WILL!!!
Some don't want to hear that there is effort involved in our walk with THE LORD, but, there is, indeed, and why not? IF we are RESTORED THROUGH HIS GRACE, why not HONOUR HIM WITH the BEST of our attentions, and intentions? What else could we hope to give HIM in return for such a GIFT? Not only this, but HE COMMANDS that we make changes to HONOUR this GIFT!!!
IF we are OF HIM, we are ALREADY different than the world, so WHY do we keep trying to be LIKE the world? This is a serious area of understanding...
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment