HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: RELIGION; RELATIONSHIP...

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...

SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: RELIGION; RELATIONSHIP...

There is always discussion about religion vs. Christianity, which is worth consideration, as anything which causes us to wonder, or ponder, ought to be worked through, as even the smallest hindrance is an obstacle, and can make one weary despite their intention---

Religion is “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.” In that respect, Christianity can be classified as a religion. However, practically speaking, Christianity has a key difference that separates it from other belief systems that are considered religions. That difference is relationship. Holiness and obedience to Scripture are important, but they are evidences of a transformed heart, not a means to attain it. God desires that we be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). He wants us to grow in grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18). But we do these things because we are His children and want to be like Him, not in order to earn His love.

Christianity is not about signing up for a religion. Christianity is about being born into the family of God (John 3:3). It is a relationship. Just as an adopted child has no power to create an adoption, we have no power to join the family of God by our own efforts. We can only accept His invitation to know Him as Father through adoption (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15). When we join His family through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside our hearts (1 Corinthians 6:19; Luke 11:13; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22). He then empowers us to live like children of the King. He does not ask us to try to attain holiness by our own strength, as religion does. He asks that our old self be crucified with Him so that His power can live through us (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:6). God wants us to know Him, to draw near to Him, to pray to Him, and love Him above everything. That is not religion; that is a relationship.

JAMES 1: 26-27...
26+++If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27+++Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

When men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands.

Christians ARE Children of THE MOST HIGH LORD, *GOD*; this means we are Family, which means we are IN a RELATIONSHIP, and like any relationship, there is duty, concessions, compromises, sacrifices, and so on! We struggle to grasp having a relationship with THE LORD *GOD* for many reasons, yet NONE of those reasons are valid IF we claim to have FAITH, and LOVE FOR HIM, because FAITH overrides, and resolves all which might cause us to doubt, or cause us to drift away, even in the slightest. It is alright to wonder, to ponder, to seek to know, but when we become confused, we get weary, and then, we are prone to going off course...

HE IS TRANSFORMING us; HE IS MAKING us NEW; HE IS LEADING us INTO our REALITY, and for sure, during the process it WILL be evident IN our thoughts, words, actions, and reactions! We SHALL SHINE OF HIM FOR the world to SEE, and this we CANNOT do on our own, STILL, our surrender, and participation IS involved! It is a matter of acknowledgement that we are NO LONGER of the flesh, and HAVE become ONE WITH THE SPIRIT, therefore, we are different, as well as our spiritual growth IS evident; THIS TO HIS GLORY, which we WILL share in, now, and forever...

KNOWING that RELATIONSHIP IS distinct from religion, and existing according actually makes us more religious, as we adhere TO said relationship accordingly! It CANNOT be feigned, for our truth IS visible TO THE LORD, and ultimately, to those who are OF HIM! Fear of HIM leads to WISDOM, and LOVE, and FAITH, then to FAITHFULNESS, which IS FIDELITY TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORDS! Now, we WON'T do this overnight, and we WILL stumble, A LOT, but that we are LEARNING, FOLLOWING, and OBEYING, OPENS UP to THE HOLY SPIRIT which then, guides, directs, leads, and protects us along THE WAY, which again SHOWS IN us, and through us, THAT around us, HE IS SEEN, and KNOWN!!!

We are NO LONGER OF THE WORLD, therefore we SHOULD remain unstained by it, and it's ways, as much as is feasible IN our knowledge, and understanding, AS we PRAY when we struggle, and meet lures to err, head on; that is those enticements, and temptations which are of the world! Again, we are NOT doing this ourselves, YET, we ARE ONE with the growth, and maturity OF HIS WORKS IN us!!!

Our aim is to PLEASE OUR FATHER, and cultivate, or develop our bond with HIM, NOT for merit, instead because of LOVE, and FIDELITY TO THAT LOVE, and because HE IS OUR FATHER! HE IS perfecting us THAT when we arrive HOME, it will ever be comfort, peace, and void of anything which will challenge our ONENESS WITH HIM! You see, all the woes of the world ARE to challenge HIM, and HIS LOVE for us, and ours for HIM, and WHEN HE RETURNS, all such challenge will cease eternally! In the meantime, we have work to do, and that in cooperation TO HIS WILL, BECAUSE HIS WILL FOR us IS designed to lead us HOME, and to ensure everlasting comfort; NOT that our work will save us, instead, that is SHOWS HIM IN us, and this for great purpose, THAT the lost might be saved as well!!!

MANY concentrate on religion, but RELATIONSHIP IS FAR GREATER, and MORE NATURAL TO our truth, but we WILL be religious as a result OF our ONENESS WITH THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY!!!

There are SO many references to HOW we must exist AS Children of THE MOST HIGH *GOD* throughout THE WORD, each of which IS like food, and water TO the spiritual being, as it nourishes, and sustains us AS we grow INTO HIM, and our reality, which IS in contrast to the carnal, fleshy being! Hence, understanding that RELATIONSHIP IS KEY allows for greater ease in adapting to the adoption (EPHESIANS 1)!!!

There are many religions in the world, but they are man centered! Christianity IS *GOD* centered, in that HE HAS CHOSEN us, and DESIRES us to co-exist with HIM, and HIS LOVE, in which case WE BENEFIT, and HE IS PLEASED! In other religions man is pleased, and whom they worship benefits! Hard to explain, and even harder to fully grasp, yet, TRUTH IS TRUTH!!!

*GOD* WAS, IS, and EVERMORE SHALL BE, and HE HAS INVITED us to accompany HIM, and SHARE IN HIS GLORY ETERNALLY! HE HAS TOLD us what HE requires of us, and HAS TAUGHT us HOW to exist IN our TRUTH, as beings of SPIRIT, which IS the likeness HE CREATED us in, NOT the physical, mortal being; which IS the depiction of religion, AND the fruitful, continual contribution TO our RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, I would surmise...

ONENESS WITH HIM, FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT, and THE CHURCH IS THE greatest relationship, and endeavour we can HOPE to pursue, and ensure, because in the end, NOTHING but HE, and HIS shall remain!!!

We are NOT flesh for long! The soul IS our reality, and it DOES belong to *GOD*, in which case HE IS JUDGE over each, and DOES desire that ALL use their free will according to SALVATION, but those who won't, well, their fate is also, known!!!

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (MATTHEW 6)! As with HIS COVENANT, so is a relationship with HIM, TWO-SIDED; NEITHER can be satisfied without us; HE HAS DONE HIS PART, the rest is on us; let us understand, and correlate accordingly! PRAISE THE LORD *GOD*, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us, HONOUR HIM in all your ways, all your days, GIVE THANKS, BE GRATEFUL, and BOND WITH HIM IN SPIRIT, and IN TRUTH, and IN LOVE! PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, and ALLOW HIM TO finish HIS WORKS in you! BE ACTIVE IN HIS PLAN, and WILL, for this we have been CREATED, and SHALL SHARE IN FOREVER!!!

LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS