Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruit

     "Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;"

   Our God is a mighty and jealous God. He is so full of love and compassion but He commands our obedience, lest danger and curses of the unrepentant sinner fall upon us.

"When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God."

   He longs to bring his people to Himself, and as He is perfect and holy, He will, in due time. He only requires we follow; trusting Him and loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

 ^"Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments."

 

 

     Salvation is not of works but the grace of God. However, as an outpouring of our love and devotion to our Lord, Christians should be known by their works.

 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

   Do we follow Him? Do we daily pick up our cross and follow Christ, dying to our flesh that we may live with our King forever?

 ^"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

(Ezekiel 39:25, 27-29, Psalm 119:129-137, James 2:26, Romans 8:5-6 KJV)