HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: THE SOCIETY THAT FOLLOWED NOT THEIR SHEPHERD, BUT THEIR OWN FANCIES...

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...

MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: THE SOCIETY THAT FOLLOWED NOT THEIR SHEPHERD, BUT THEIR OWN FANCIES...

There once lived a society that would not listen to the Priests, or Prophets of THE LORD, yet, they appointed Priests, and Prophets for themselves, whom they listened to! Those appointed by humans, were not anointed by *GOD*, but the people sought them in every matter, uncaring of the fact that these human appointed Priests, and Prophets, were not only lacking in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of *GOD*, they relied upon their own imaginations, visions, dreams, and divination's to appease the people...

THE LORD *GOD* was, rightly, furious, though HE chose to sit back, and observe this strange people, as they relied not upon HIM, instead upon those whose ego's led the people even farther from HIM, and whom, began to demand payment of all sorts, from the people, as they conjured up any means to impress the people, that their positions would be lasting, and profitable...

Every once in a while, THE LORD would deliver a sign to the people, sometimes through HIS Chosen Prophets, sometimes in the form of miracles, or disasters, but the people remained indifferent to HIM...

The people were very happy in their choice to appoint Priests and Prophets of their own choosing, because they were not instructed to heed THE LORD, in ways which they had rebelled against since the beginning of time! They reveled to their hearts content, and were encouraged by their appointed Priests, and Prophets, who told them that as long as they believed in *GOD*, they were acting according to HIS WILL. Soon, the people were beyond control as they partook in every vice imaginable, some even becoming more deviated with time. There was little respect for the things that would optimize them, and their communities. All practical, and principled institutions beneficial for all, became abnormal, even obsolete, as these people glorified themselves with the fulfillment of their desires...

At first glance, this society would appear functional, for they were so adept in their dysfunction! There were Churches, though not founded on the SACRED, or DIVINE, instead upon the feeding of their desires! Their educational system, though costly, produced minimal results, for even the Children were allowed their desires! Their Government was more crooked than their Priests, and Prophets, and yet, everyone was happy...

As generations came forth from this society, there was increased passion, greed, lust, anger, arrogance, laziness, violence, and much more! All good things that people expect of one another, or of their community, turned sour! There was no trust, no respect, no regard, no control, self or otherwise, no compassion, no kindness, nothing that could relieve them, even for a moment, from all of the negative goings on...

Still, no more than a handful, and these in secret, turned to THE LORD! Instead, the people relied more heavily upon astrologers, mediums, magic, and anything that might promise them what they were looking for...

*GOD* laughs at them; they are learning some harsh lessons of their own makings! HE yet LOVES them, but those who do not LOVE HIM, or turn to HIM, HE will not rush to save from themselves! So, HE observes, knowing what their end is. HE has sent them messages informing them that their self appointed Priests, and Prophets, are leading them to a cliff, but they listen not. HE has informed them throughout history of the dangers of relying on human understanding, but they defy HIS voice! HE has provided for them, a WAY to make things right, even begging them to reason with HIM, but, they close their eyes to HIM, and put their hands over their ears...

Evil has ruled this society for so long, no one is aware of this fact! None of these people have a clue that their lives are grounded, deeply in what is wrong! They are on a steeply titled slide, to their own ruin, and no one seems to care...

One day, HE will again, BLESS the Earth with HIS presence, and on that day, there will be too many to count, pleading for HIS GRACE, but, to those who refused HIM in those, and any times, HE will say, "I never knew you!" MATTHEW 7...