Fear of THE LORD is the beginning of the WISDOM, which teaches us to LOVE HIM, and to obey HIM, in FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS!!!
LUKE 6: 46...
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command?
Though full and exact returns are made in another world, not in this world, yet Providence does what should encourage us in doing good. Those who follow the multitude to do evil, follow in the broad way that leads to destruction.
The tree is known by its fruits; may the word of Christ be so grafted in our hearts, that we may be fruitful in every good word and work. And what the mouth commonly speaks, generally agrees with what is most in the heart.
Those only make sure work for their souls and eternity, and take the course that will profit in a trying time, who think, speak, and act according to the words of Christ. Those who take pains in religion, found their hope upon Christ, who is the Rock of Ages, and other foundation can no man lay. In death and judgment they are safe, being kept by the power of Christ through faith unto salvation, and they shall never perish.
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration.
The apostle rejoiced now they obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were delivered as into a mould. As the same metal becomes a new vessel, when melted and recast in another mould, so the believer has become a new creature.
And there is great difference in the liberty of mind and spirit, so opposite to the state of slavery, which the true Christian has in the service of his rightful Lord, whom he is enabled to consider as his Father, and himself as his son and heir, by the adoption of grace. The dominion of sin consists in being willingly slaves thereto, not in being harassed by it as a hated power, struggling for victory. Those who now are the servants of God, once were the slaves of sin.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man.
Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell us plainly what we are.
Our sins are the spots the law discovers: Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows. But in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case with those who do not hear the word as they ought.
In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life.
Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompense hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort. Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of God.
And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
This great saying is enlarged on in the subsequent section - the relation of love to obedience, obedience producing love, and love suggesting obedience and supplying it with motive.
HE says we cannot serve two Masters, and it is absolutely LOGICAL that HE speaks of this, as we view too many TRYING to live in the world, AND IN HIM! It doesn't work, because when we are OF CHRIST, we KNOW we are NOT of the world, and therefore, NOT bound to anything of the world, including, passions, desires, and other such, which sought with a worldly mind, leave us in a worldly state! We are to, in obedience, SEEK THE KINGDOM OF *GOD*, and HE WILL add to us, according TO HIS WILL! This requires patience, knowledge, understanding, FAITH, LOVE, and FAITHFULNESS TO HIS WILL!!!
You see, WHEN we OBEY THE LORD *GOD*, HE IS GLORIFIED, and we are BLESSED, because we have realized that ALL HE HAS instructed IS for the good of ALL in CREATION, and for our own well-being, as HIS GLORY SHINES through us! To obey HIM is to to LOVE HIM as HE WILLS to be LOVED, AND, quite frankly, KEEPS us from that which disprove us!!!
In order to obey, there must be surrender; surrender of the flesh, TO submission of *GOD*!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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