HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE RIGHTFUL PLACE OF THE LORD...

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 RIGHTFUL PLACE OF THE LORD...

Most of *GOD'S* favoured people FIRST proved themselves to HIM, in living according to HIS WILL, in which case, HE BLESSED them for their fidelity, and devotion. Certain people, and Prophets, concerned themselves with HIS WAYS, and consequently, were granted numerous benevolences...

From Abraham, all the way through to the Apostle's, these people grasped onto the sound sensibility of fearing HIM, becoming humble before HIM, and adhering to HIS voice, or WORD! Some were SO devoted to HIM that HE called them Friends, no easy task for most of us, as it involves undivided attention to HIM...

IF we lived as HE bids us to, we would have NO reason to search the world for what we need, want, or lack, because HE would/does/will provide abundantly! IF we placed HIM, FIRST, and FOREMOST in our beings, and lives, HE would add to us, just as HE has with many, since way back when! This involves unshakable, unmovable, unrelenting FAITH, TRUST, and BELIEF IN HIM, as well as the PATIENCE to await HIM, and HIS movement in our lives...

HE bids us to FOLLOW HIM, and according to Scripture, this means SINCERELY, and TOTALLY! When CHRIST said, "Follow me!" to HIS Disciples, they left EVERYTHING in their lives behind, and began anew WITH the BLESSINGS HE provided! There are GREAT lessons in these examples; ones that make perfect sense, IF we have the correct understanding OF HIM, and HIS WILL, as well as of our place in HIS Plan...

The illustration of the rich young Man whom asked CHRIST what he should do to secure his place in HEAVEN, is one of imperative consideration! When CHRIST JESUS told him that he was to sell all that he owned, the young Man became quite distraught, and likely, confused; then, he walked away very sad! This IS how most of us ARE! We are SO attached TO the world, that we CAN'T find the WILL to UP, and FOLLOW HIM in the manner which HE bids us to! We CAN'T grasp the idea of separating ourselves from the world in favour of attachment TO HIM, because we WANT to have it all, and the best of both! Unfortunately, our standing with HIM is endangered BY the world, and it's holds on us, although, those afore mentioned favoured of *GOD*, were able to have the best of both, BECAUSE they were WISE enough to KNOW that WITH *GOD* AS the head of their lives, they would be WELL provided for! They KNEW that HIS WORD was as gold, and that HIS PROMISES were rock solid, as long as they remained IN HIM, and IN HIS WILL! See???

FEW people grasp the understanding that *GOD* IS ALL, and EVERYTHING, therefore FIRST, and FOREMOST, THEN, HE WILL ADD to us, according to HIS WILL, and Plan, YET, this IS, not only CRUCIAL, it holds URGENCY, as our time is limited, and unpredictable except to HIM...

MATTHEW 10: 38 (MATTHEW 16: 24; LUKE 14: 27 & a few more)...
and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.

Let's take a deeper look into this:
A true disciple of Christ is one that does follow him in duty, and shall follow him to glory. He is one that walks in the same way Christ walked in, is led by his Spirit, and treads in his steps, wheresoever he goes. Let him deny himself. If self-denial be a hard lesson, it is no more than what our Master learned and practiced, to redeem us, and to teach us. Let him take up his cross. The cross is here put for every trouble that befalls us.

We are apt to think we could bear another's cross better than our own; but that is best which is appointed us, and we ought to make the best of it. We must not by our rashness and folly pull crosses down upon our own heads, but must take them up when they are in our way. If any man will have the name and credit of a disciple, let him follow Christ in the work and duty of a disciple.

If all worldly things are worthless when compared with the life of the body, how forcible the same argument with respect to the soul and its state of never-ending happiness or misery! Thousands lose their souls for the most trifling gain, or the most worthless indulgence, nay, often from mere sloth and negligence. Whatever is the object for which men forsake Christ, that is the price at which Satan buys their souls. Yet one soul is worth more than all the world. This is Christ's judgment upon the matter; he knew the price of souls, for he redeemed them; nor would he underrate the world, for he made it. The dying transgressor cannot purchase one hour's respite to seek mercy for his perishing soul. Let us then learn rightly to value our souls, and Christ as the only Saviour of them.

THE GOOD LORD, nor anyone else said that it would be easy, instead, that it IS MOST WORTHY of our attention, understanding, devotion, and allegiance! And TRULY, once we get started on our walk WITH HIM, it IS hard to stop, and DOES become more natural, thus easier for us, and the rewards of doing so, ARE astronomical, as well as ETERNAL, for HE IS a GRACIOUS, PATIENT, KIND, COMPASSIONATE, GIVING, TRUE, and BENEVOLENT LORD, FULL OF LOVE, and MERCY...

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