HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM...

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...

WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM...

Considered a "masterpiece" of THE NEW TESTAMENT, the BOOK of HEBREWS is one which appeals to the people to REMAIN IN CHRIST JESUS, a word of exhortation---

It is believed to have been written for the Jewish Christians of the 2ND century, in Jerusalem; it's authorship is widely debated by scholars, past, and present, but most believe it is of Paul, or pf those in his circle...

Its purpose was to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The theme of the epistle is the doctrine of the person of Christ and his role as mediator between God and humanity. There was great distress over the possibility of apostasy, not due to persecution, instead brought on by weariness from the demands of Christian existence, and an increase of indifference to their CALLING...

In order to restore their waning zeal, and the strengthening of their FAITH, it is done through the main subject matter of CHRIST JESUS, HIS PRIESTHOOD, and HIS SACRIFICE for us. Another aspect of this BOOK is the pilgrimage of the people of *GOD* to the HEAVENLY Jerusalem (THE KINGDOM)...

HEBREWS is not only an exhortation, but a message of encouragement...

It begins with a reminder of the PREEXISTENCE, INCARNATION, and EXALTATION of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, THE CLIMAX of *GOD'S* WORD to humanity, in which the DIGNITY of the person of CHRIST IS superior to the angels. CHRIST IS *GOD'S* FINAL WORD of Salvation depicted, and illustrated not only through the accredited witnesses to HIS TEACHINGS, but also, through HIS suffering IN HIS humanity, common to HIM, and to all others. HIS enactment of Salvation went beyond the pattern known to Moses, FAITHFUL Prophet of *GOD'S* WORD, though he was, for CHRIST as HIGH PRIEST, expiated sin, and was FAITHFUL TO *GOD* with the FAITHFULNESS of *GOD'S* OWN SON...

Like the infidelity of the people of the Exodus thwarted Moses' efforts to Save them, so the infidelity of any Christian may thwart *GOD'S* PLAN IN CHRIST. Thus, we as Christians, ought to reflect that it is OUR humanity which CHRIST JESUS TOOK UPON HIMSELF, with ALL its defects, save sinfulness, and that HE BORE the weight of it until death OUT OF OBEDIENCE TO *GOD*, WHOM DECLARED this work OF HIS SON to BE the CAUSE of Salvation for all...

You see, though most Christians recognize this fundamental teaching they MAY grow weary of it, and it's implications, therefore there ARE other reflections in this BOOK TO reignite FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS...

We SHOULD reflect upon the EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST, which FULFILLS the PROMISE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND the meaning *GOD* ULTIMATELY intended in the Sacrifices of THE OLD TESTAMENT; which POINTED TO THE UNIQUE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST JESUS, which ALONE OBTAINS FORGIVENESS of sins...

FAITH SHOULD be strengthened IN considering of CHRIST' Ministry in the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, and HIS PERPETUAL intercession on our behalf, and by the ASSURANCE OF HIS FORE-ORDAINED RETURN, and by the fruits of FAITH we already have...

HEBREWS goes into FAITH, and persevering in it, and shows us that despite all HE endured, CHRIST JESUS REMAINED CONFIDENT OF THE TRIUMPH THAT *GOD* WOULD BRING HIM. We are taught HOW our sufferings take on new meaning when they are considered disciplines of THE LORD *GOD*, and HOW we SHOULD look forward TO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM as we persevere IN THE WORD. There are moral COMMANDMENTS, and in the central theme of CHRIST' SACRIFICE the courage NECESSARY to associate oneself with it in FAITH...

It is a tough BOOK for many to understand, yet an important one, which puts into PERSPECTIVE, THE LORD *GOD*, HIS WILL, HIS PLAN, HIS SON, our SAVIOUR, and HIGH PRIEST, along with our role in it all; thus, each Wednesday, we will dig into it, until we have taken from it what is useful for our overall growth, strength, and JOY IN CHRIST, our LORD, and SAVIOUR...