As noted in previous posts, a Christian's role in HIS PLAN IS to bring HIM into the sight, conscience, and heart of those yet lost in the increasing darkness of this world; to SHINE OF HIS LIGHT, THAT HE IS visible, and manifest THROUGH our example, body, mind, heart, and spirit! IF we are TRUE to our calling, we, along with THE HOLY SPIRIT, EXEMPLIFY HIM, though WE won't be able to do so perfectly, our existence SHOULD GLOW of HIM, and SPEAK of HIM, needless to say, clearly!!!
We are BEING perfected BY THE PERFECT LORD *GOD*, and we have a LONG way to go, but the POINT IS our willingness, and our participation, IN HIS WILL BEING MANIFEST, as HIS GLORY we display in our thoughts, actions, and reactions, WHICH eventually, flows more readily, naturally, and genuinely as we strengthen our relationship WITH HIM...
THE LORD WILLS that few, or none be lost to the world, and so, HIS people ARE co-workers OF HIS WILL, FOR the sake of awakening, alerting, and inspiring others that their souls spend eternity in THE KINGDOM, and not the devastated fate of the world...
Obedience is NOT a popular word, especially in these late days, yet it IS common TO our walk WITH THE LORD *GOD*! Obedience is reverence, it is accordance, it is respect, and regard, it is agreement, it is compliance, it IS ALL which bonds an HONEST relationship, and the one we have with THE LORD MUST be TRUE, it must be heartfelt, and it must be a proactive one!!!
The days ARE evil, and ONLY what is GOOD, RIGHT, and JUST CAN BREAKTHROUGH the contemptible corruption! THUS, our role, our work IS IMPERATIVE, because it IS our TRUTH, and TRUTH IS THE WAY, which WE CAN arouse in others, despite the heavy, deceiving shroud placed upon them! That we DO our share, and BE whom we TRULY ARE, HAS GREAT purpose!!!
Bottom line is LOVE; LOVE FOR THE LORD *GOD*, and LOVE for one another! Currently, hatred is foaming on the shores of every nation, and is found even in THE CHURCH! LIGHT IS LOVE, hate is darkness, and we MUST acknowledge that IN LIGHT, there is NO darkness, and therefore, separate ourselves from the darkness in more than professing CHRIST JESUS as our LORD and SAVIOUR; we MUST exist in LOVE in all ways, all of our days, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of others; AMEN, THE LIGHT MUST SHINE...
5+++This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6+++If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7+++but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8+++If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9+++If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10+++If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood.
The eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin.
3+++By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4+++The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5+++but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
6+++the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7+++Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
8+++On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
9+++The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
10+++The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11+++But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself.
The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going.
LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment