HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TO LOVE AS DOES HE...

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...

TO LOVE AS DOES HE...

*GOD* gave the Ancients 10 COMMANDMENTS by which to live; CHRIST reduced these COMMANDMENTS to 2, because IF WE LOVE as we are bid to, we live according to HIS WILL, and all other instructions are thereby HONOURED...

MATTHEW 5: 17-18...
17/ "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
18/ Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The law is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man, pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowed disobedience to the holy law of God, or teaches others to do the same, whatever his station or reputation among men may be, he can be no true disciple. Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, is needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace or of glory; but the new creation of the heart to holiness, produces a thorough change in a man's temper and conduct.

CHRIST JESUS fulfilled the law IN HIS ways, TOTALLY committed to THE WILL OF THE FATHER, *GOD*, leaving us an OBVIOUS, and PERTINENT example which we SHOULD FOLLOW, though for us, THE LAW remains, for we are not perfected in spirit...

We are hard pressed to LOVE as HE has bid us to! It is really sad, but, it is the truth of our existence, though, we OUGHT to be TRYING every single *GOD* given day to make this sad truth right! We NEED to go beyond our worldly experience of LOVE, and take on the understanding of *GODLY*, HOLY LOVE, because that IS THE LOVE we are expected to imitate, and develop, and IS THE LOVE that holds ALL of CREATION together! HE came to this world to SHOW us LOVE, in more than one way! CHRIST IS our PERFECT example of LOVE, and so, HE IS whom we should pattern ourselves after, and attach to, like crazy glue...

1 JOHN 4: 20...
If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

This verse says VOLUMES! It frightens me at times, because it is SO ordinary for us to step away from LOVE! Personally, I HAVE learned to LOVE others, even if I might not like their ways, but, it was NOT easy to do, because in this LOVE, there IS forgiveness, mercy, and all the wholesome graces of HIS WILL, and WAYS! It seems improbable for us to LOVE the enemy, to the LOVE those who act against humanity, and so forth, yet, we must never forget, LOVE NEVER FAILS, IN the long run, and IN *GOD*!!!

Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly.

It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory.

The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God, whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have seen.

LOVE is greater than all other endeavours! As we GROW in spirit, LOVE SHOULD be growing, and increasing all the while! Human LOVE is based on human emotions, conditions, romance, and other earthly precepts; HOLY LOVE IS *GODLINESS* REFINED, EXEMPLIFIED, and GLORIFIED! It is NOT easy to develop the LOVE that defines HIS own, yet, it IS the single most imperative area of understanding to embrace, and utilize!!!

In the course of a year, I have to shake my head many times, in sorrow for certain people, and am cut to the heart by some of the actions of humanity, yet, I STAND IN LOVE, no matter what! AND, I CAN forgive, because I understand the underlying powers of doing so! I might be disgusted, or disturbed, but, I CAN forgive, BLESS, and PRAY for those that create what has the potential to make one hate, BECAUSE *GOD* HAS FORGIVEN ME; I LOVE HIM, AND I recognize the SOUND sensibility in HIS bidding me to do so! I have LEARNED from HIM, detrimental lessons concerning LOVE, and I have taken them to the core of my being...

CONSIDER, and meditate upon HIS LOVE FOR us; it is awe-inspiring, and when taken deep within, becomes as an eternal fountain, overflowing from HIM to us, to ALL!!!

IF ANY sinner repents, LOVE, or *GOD* is WILLING to forgive them! IF their heart is sincere, and they have a change of heart towards sin, HE WILL forgive! HE says that since HE forgives, we ought to as well! It ISN'T easy, though, the difficulties therein are products of the world, and the oppressor. We CAN LOVE as HE COMMANDS us to, else HE would not COMMAND it; HE has NOT required anything beyond our capacities to fulfill!!!

It BEGINS, and ENDS WITH LOVE! LOVE IS THE LAW, *GOD* IS LOVE, LOVE IS RIGHT, JUST, and GOOD! IF we say we LOVE *GOD*, we HAVE TO LOVE one another! IF we LOVE one another, we PRACTICE LOVE in ALL it's components, facets, and excellent qualities!!!

WHY don't we LOVE as we OUGHT to? LOVE is THE MOST EMPOWERING FORCE IN EXISTENCE, and THE MOST BENEFICIAL! LOVE is HEALTH, WEALTH, and ALL which is RIGHT!!!

LOVE THE LORD, THANK HIM FOR HIS LOVE, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, and HONOUR HIM IN LOVE! LOVE IS ALL THAT!!!

HOW do we LOVE as we OUGHT to? We study THE WORD, we study HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and we FOLLOW HIS example(s), APPLYING the SOUND PRINCIPLES therein TO this life!!!

JOHN 14:15...
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

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