May we allow HIS GRACE, and MERCY TO meld within us, that we exemplify HIM, as we strive to bring to others the absolute GOOD OF TRUTH, and HIS LOVE...
We are taught to WORSHIP HIM aright, which means HE TOLD us what it means to WORSHIP HIM, as previously, WORSHIP had become more ritual than honest, and more show than of the heart; therefore HE instructed us in HOW to WORSHIP correctly! TRUE WORSHIP IS *GOD* CENTERED WORSHIP, FREE of the world, and it's influence(s)! It IS a FOCUS upon what PLEASES HIM, over the self, and over the mere rituals which we are prone to! It IS thinking right, being, and doing good, IN HIS NAME, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of others! It IS more than we admit to, or practice, indeed; many have zeal, but remain unenlightened...
MICAH 6: 6-8...
6+++With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7+++Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8+++He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
These verses seem to contain the substance of Balak's consultation with Balaam how to obtain the favour of Israel's God. Deep conviction of guilt and wrath will put men upon careful inquiries after peace and pardon, and then there begins to be some ground for hope of them.
In order to God's being pleased with us, our care must be for an interest in the atonement of Christ, and that the sin by which we displease him may be taken away. What will be a satisfaction to God's justice? In whose name must we come, as we have nothing to plead as our own? In what righteousness shall we appear before him? The proposals betray ignorance, though they show zeal. They offer that which is very rich and costly.
Those who are fully convinced of sin, and of their misery and danger by reason of it, would give all the world, if they had it, for peace and pardon. Yet they do not offer aright. The sacrifices had value from their reference to Christ; it was impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin. And all proposals of peace, except those according to the gospel, are absurd. They could not answer the demands of Divine justice, nor satisfy the wrong done to the honour of God by sin, nor would they serve at all in place of holiness of the heart and reformation of the life.
Men will part with any thing rather than their sins; but they part with nothing so as to be accepted of God, unless they do part with their sins. Moral duties are commanded because they are good for man. In keeping God's commandments there is a great reward, as well as after keeping them. God has not only made it known, but made it plain. The good which God requires of us is, not the paying a price for the pardon of sin and acceptance with God, but love to himself; and what is there unreasonable, or hard, in this? Every thought within us must be brought down, to be brought into obedience to God, if we would walk comfortably with him. We must do this as penitent sinners, in dependence on the Redeemer and his atonement. Blessed be the Lord that he is ever ready to give his grace to the humble, waiting penitent.
Our exhortations and our examples should agree together. We should be SHINING OF HIM, IN TRUTH, and SPIRIT; in other words, from deep within, to without, THE LORD *GOD* SHOULD BE EVIDENT in us; from our heart, to our thoughts, to our words, to our actions, and our reactions! Let's go deeper...
PSALM 111: 10...
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
All God's commandments are sure; all have been fulfilled by Christ, and remain with him for a rule of walk and conversation to us. He sent redemption unto his people, out of Egypt at first, and often afterwards; and these were typical of the great redemption, which in the fullness of time was to be wrought out by the Lord Jesus. Here his everlasting righteousness shines forth in union with his boundless mercy. No man is wise who does not fear the Lord; no man acts wisely except as influenced by that fear. This fear will lead to repentance, to faith in Christ, to watchfulness and obedience. Such persons are of a good understanding, however poor, unlearned, or despised.
PROVERBS 9: 9-12...
9+++Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10+++The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11+++For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12+++If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
Christ has prepared ordinances to which his people are admitted, and by which nourishment is given here to those that believe in him, as well as mansions in heaven hereafter. The ministers of the gospel go forth to invite the guests. The call is general, and shuts out none that do not shut out themselves. Our Saviour came, not to call the righteous, but sinners; not the wise in their own eyes, who say they see. We must keep from the company and foolish pleasures of the ungodly, or we never can enjoy the pleasures of a holy life. It is vain to seek the company of wicked men in the hope of doing them good; we are far more likely to be corrupted by them. It is not enough to forsake the foolish, we must join those that walk in wisdom. There is no true wisdom but in the way of religion, no true life but in the end of that way. Here is the happiness of those that embrace it. A man cannot be profitable to God; it is for our own good. Observe the shame and ruin of those who slight it. God is not the Author of sin: and Satan can only tempt, he cannot force. Thou shalt bear the loss of that which thou scornest: it will add to thy condemnation.
"Worshiping" out of obligation is displeasing to God and is completely in vain. He can see through all the hypocrisy, and He hates it. He demonstrates this in AMOS 5:21-24 as He talks about coming judgment. True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good, and we are told in the Bible to do them). True worship is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word. To do this, we must know God; we cannot be ignorant of Him (ACTS 17:23). Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.
In these unhinged, hostile times, it IS necessary to make the HONEST decision to come closer to THE LORD, TRUTH, and OUR role IN HIS PLAN! It is crucial to KNOW CHRIST JESUS, THE LORD *GOD* THAT we might be more like HIM, for HE HAS BID us TO "BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY" (1 PETER 1: 16); NOT that we can do it on our own, but our WILLINGNESS, AND OPENNESS ALLOW HIM TO WORK IN US, THROUGH US, and AROUND US! It is time for TRUE WORSHIP to take it's place, beginning with THE CHURCH, HIS CHOSEN people! For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 PETER 4: 17. And even the best of men need to be warned against the worst of sins. There is no comfort in sufferings, when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. A time of universal calamity was at hand, as foretold by our Saviour, Mt 24:9,10. And if such things befall in this life, how awful will the day of judgment be!
It is true that the righteous are scarcely saved; even those who endeavour to walk uprightly in the ways of God. This does not mean that the purpose and performance of God are uncertain, but only the great difficulties and hard encounters in the way; that they go through so many temptations and tribulations, so many fightings without and fears within. Yet all outward difficulties would be as nothing, were it not for lusts and corruptions within. These are the worst clogs and troubles. And if the way of the righteous be so hard, then how hard shall be the end of the ungodly sinner, who walks in sin with delight, and thinks the righteous is a fool for all his pains! The only way to keep the soul well, is, to commit it to God by prayer, and patient perseverance in well-doing. He will overrule all to the final advantage of the believer.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! May we embrace this GIFT OF TIME, *GOD* WILLING, with a clean heart, a clear mind, and a diligent adherence TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD! May we REFLECT HIM to a T, in FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS! May we BLESS HIM BY BEING A BLESSING for others! May we LOVE FOR REAL, and leave LOVE behind ALWAYS! May we PRAISE HIM EVERMORE, and WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS PERFECTLY, for HE IS WORTHY, and IS TO BE HONOURED in ALL ways, ALL of our days! PRAY, and be thankful, for THE LIGHT IS WITH us, and SHALL LEAD us through, AMEN, and HALLELUJAH! Study, learn, embrace, and UTILIZE HIS SOUND INSTRUCTION for our journey, and the sake of souls; time IS NOT in our hands, therefore, NOW IS THE TIME to SURELY walk THE PATH, and THE WAY; FOR HIS GLORY, and the benefit of souls...
LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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