HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: MORE TO SAY ABOUT LOVE, I NEVER TIRE OF IT...

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: MORE TO SAY ABOUT LOVE, I NEVER TIRE OF IT...

Of course most of humanity knows LOVE, yet, some of the LOVE we know is not right-minded, some is downright selfish, some is materially inclined, and lots of it is conditional!

Many LOVE their immediate Family, some too much, some not enough, along with those that they have allowed into their tight knit circle, but other than that, don't have an ounce of LOVE for others! Many LOVE their tangibles, such as money, success, popularity, and other such, but, wouldn't share any of it with anyone in need! I could go on, but, we all know the TRUTH of our LOVE; it leaves much to be desired, thus, *GOD* offers to TEACH us to LOVE, via HIS PERFECT LOVE, still, too many skirt the issue, and/or, imagine that they DO LOVE as does HE...

LOVE is SOUND, and FULL of principles, goodness, and endless forwarding of itself, and NEVER has ANY self-inclination attached to it, for then, it is stagnated, stymied, and hindered! LOVE by standard, and perfection HAS to be forwarded, only then is it PURE!!!

There is NO pride, vanity, or any other negative in LOVE! There is nothing in the core of LOVE which could, or would, create what is against it! LOVE is CLEAN, and unspoiled, it is simply, PURE!!!

We, whom claim oneness with THE LORD, OUGHT to know HIM enough to BEGIN to testify TO LOVE, via HIS example, HIS teachings, HIS instructions, and HIS references to what happens when we do NOT step into LOVE! CHRIST IS THE EPITOME of LOVE, yet, most have not reached deep enough into study, consideration, or thought, to grasp even a straw portion of HIS PERFECT LOVE, which, we ARE to adapt to, strengthen, develop, and share with ALL! LOVE IS THE LAW, point blank, and those who do not LOVE as HE has instructed us to, do not LOVE HIM, HE says!!!

MATTHEW 22: 37-40...
37/ He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38/ This is the greatest and the first commandment.
39/ The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40/ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

An interpreter of the law asked our Lord a question, to try, not so much his knowledge, as his judgment. The love of God is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the commands of the first table. Our love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him.

To love our neighbour as ourselves, is the second great commandment. There is a self-love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest sins, and it must be put off and mortified; but there is a self-love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others. By these two commandments let our hearts be formed as by a mold.

THEN, CHRIST says:
JOHN 14; 15...
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 JOHN 4: 20-21...
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.
21/ This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2Ti 2:12.

We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for 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 KEEPS US ALIGNED, and ALWAYS working FOR HIS GLORY, and THE GOOD OF ALL! LOVE KEEPS us out of danger, trouble, and inclination to sin! LOVE hears us saying, "I will not forsake my LORD", and SEES us living in that TRUTH, which then, spans forth into the world, seeing us in the same manner, dealing with others, from Spouse, all the way to the most distant stranger, because to withhold LOVE from anyone, IS to forsake THE LORD! LOVE IS THE LAW because IN LOVE there is CONSCIENTIOUS awareness of what PROMOTES LOVE, and knowledge of what denies it! LOVE WORKS in EVERY context of works!!!

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

LOVE NEVER FAILS, WE fail LOVE!!! lw'13

1 comment:

Lynda said...: TO LOVE as *GOD* has bid us to LOVE, covers a multitude of sin, as well as invokes HIM in diverse ways!!!

No matter what kind of LOVE we have, or live in, the HOLY of LOVE of *GOD* is what we should pattern our hearts, minds, and spirits after, because all other types of LOVE, ARE therein related, and so, if we start at the TOP, by the time we finish, we WILL surely, LOVE as HE HAS COMMANDED US TO!!!

MUCH LOVE TO YOU OXOXOXO; August 11, 2013 at 10:07 PM