HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS: LOVE; FROM *GOD* TO US TO OTHERS...

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...

SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS: LOVE; FROM GOD TO US TO OTHERS...

Since it is February, month of LOVE, romance, heart health, and more, take time to take care of YOUR heart, beginning with the heart of hearts, and *GOD*! THE LORD is the TRUE source of LOVE, and when we learn to LOVE as does HE, in HIS WILL, and WAYS, HE will add to us...

DIVINE LOVE, HOLY LOVE, that PERFECT LOVE that CREATED ALL in existence, is SOUND, SENSIBLE, PRINCIPLED, TRIED, TESTED, and PROVEN; working FOR the GOOD of ALL in existence, and for our own well-being, thus, to learn, embrace, and adhere to HIS LOVE, IS the most SOLID foundation, and model we can build upon, and pattern our lives after! LOVE IS THE LAW of *GOD* because IT WORKS POSITIVELY, as THE LIGHT, ANTIDOTE, and HEALTH of CREATION!!!

HE desires that we have a changed heart, a cleansed heart, which we can't do without HIM, so the learning of HIS LOVE is detrimental! For the sake of overall health of being, and well-being, it is WISE to COME CLOSER TO HIM, ALL the days of our lives! HE EMPOWERS, HE GUIDES, HE ENABLES, HE ENRICHES, HE ENCOURAGES, HE ENDOWS; no one, nor anything else, has such powers!!!

LOVE begins with HIM, because HE has first LOVED us, despite our imperfections, errs, and unworthiness of character, and behaviour; then, as HE has LOVED us despite our shortcomings, we must then LOVE others, in the same gist! This is MERCY, and CHARITY! It should be understood that we do NOT have to like what others do, but, in spite of their imperfections, and what they do, we should YET LOVE them, just as HE has LOVED us! This HE HAS COMMANDED of us, and YES, it is VERY difficult to LOVE others who are against LOVE itself, but, that IS THE LAW of *GOD*, and FOR GOOD reason! LOVE CONQUERS what is wrong! LOVE HEALS what is unhealthy! LOVE BRINGS POSITIVITY to the negativity! LOVE OVER-RIDES ALL WHICH IS AGAINST it!!!

Let us understand CHARITY:
Word taken from the Latin caritas, but translating the Greek term agape. It designates a VERY ELEVATED, and PURE LOVE similar to the LOVE of *GOD* for Mankind, and the LOVE of Christians for *GOD*, and their Brothers, and Sisters. This word should not be confused with the sense of almsgiving, or charitable work. The fraternal meals of the first Christians often followed by the Eucharist received the name agape (JUDE 12:2, PETER 2: 13) translated by 'LOVE FEASTS' in this BIBLE...

Now, let us view LOVE:
In the OLD TESTAMENT, the LOVE of *GOD* expresses itself in HIS many interventions of CREATION (GENESIS 1:3, JOB 38ff), and the history of Israel (DEUTERONOMY 4: 37; PSALM 41: 12). It is a freely given elective LOVE (DEUTERONOMY 7:7) working for the salvation of Mankind, ever MERCIFUL in the face of human infidelity (HOSEA 11: 1-4).

The NEW TESTAMENT explores these first glimmerings more fully. The LOVE of *GOD* is historical because *GOD* has not spared HIS own SON and has delivered HIM to death in order to save us (JOHN 3:16). It is also freely given and elective by the work of CHRIST, which was in perfect correspondence with the WILL of THE FATHER and which made the FAITHFUL the BELOVED ones of *GOD* (JOHN 5: 20-25; COLOSSIANS 3: 12). Finally, this LOVE IN ACTION IS MERCIFUL, as shown above all by the cross and explained in the parables (JOHN 15: 13; LUKE 15: 11-32).

The LOVE of Man for *GOD* is thus a LOVE which is returned. It MUST BE SEALED by a TOTAL OBEDIENCE to the COMMANDMENTS, a FIDELITY TO THE COVENANT. In the NEW TESTAMENT, it MUST RESPOND WITHOUT LIMIT TO THE PRIOR LOVE of *GOD* and CHRIST (1 JOHN 3: 1-16; 4: 10-19).

Then we have the LOVE of neighbor:
This word corresponds to four Hebrew terms which signify respectively: Brother, countryman, fellow tribesman, and member of the same race (EXODUS 20:17). It is these whom the Israelite was COMMANDED to LOVE, not foreigners (LEVITICUS 19: 33-34). CHRIST JESUS DECLARES that one's neighbor IS EVERY Man, even one belonging to a hostile group (LUKE 10: 29-37)...

It is said that CHARITY is a virtue more excellent than FAITH! This is because CHARITY IS LOVE IN ACTION, and as is written, 1 CORINTHIANS 13: 13, So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love...

LOVE IS IMPERATIVE, it cannot be stressed enough! Because it hasn't been taught, embraced, and used in it's intended FULLNESS, we see the world the way it is!!!

Let us LOVE as *GOD* has LOVED us, first HIM, then others! LOVE is SO wonderful, splendid, brilliant, GLORIOUS, and magnificent! It is ALL things right, just, and good, and IS the greatest desire *GOD* has of us! Let us HONOUR HIM, and let HIS GLORY be ever magnified BY our grasping, and utilization of the GIFT(s) of HIS LOVE to us!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS