GOD's true blessing and mercy are thru hard conditions, rarely lived,
so very few grow from called to chosen, few experience His agape level.
 
Deut5:9,10; 11:26-28 Jn14:15
 
Mat19:17b..if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
 
Jn15:10..If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love,
just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
 
Heb5:9b..He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
 
1Jn3:24a..Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.
 
Rev22:14..Blessed are those do who His commandments, that they may have the right
to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
 

      IF GOD has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. GOD's call will put such demands of obedience on you that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians. At times, He will let other people do things which He will not let you do.
      Other Christians who seem very religious will push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans. You cannot, and if you attempt it, you will meet with failure and rebuke from the LORD.
      Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you to despise yourself and all your good works.
      Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely GOD will keep you poor. GOD wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may demonstrate His faithful love for you in supplying your needs day by day.
      GOD may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity in order to produce some fragrant fruit for his coming glory which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it now. The reward for your work is held in the hands of Jesus, and you will not see it until He comes.
      The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you with a jealous love. He will rebuke you for the little words and feelings or for wasting your time. So make up your mind that GOD is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He does not owe you an explanation of these mysteries. But if you give yourself to be His child, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and give you the precious blessings for those who belong, heart and soul, to Him.
      Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit. It is His option to tie your tongue, or chain your hand, or close your eyes in ways that He does not seem to use with others. And when you are so possessed by the living GOD that your heart delights over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.
 

Excerpted from Faith, Prayer & Tract League
 
 

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of GOD."

Mat19 
 
 
Mat6:33:  seek the kingdom,   seek His righteousness,
both require a work of faith (belief) or "obedient faith."
 

 
GOD's kingdom:  thru...
 
Mat11:12  "violent take it"
 
Lk13:24  "strive to enter"
 
Jn10:9  "if enter...saved"
 
Jn3:5  must be born of GOD
 
Acts14:22  "thru tribulations"
 
2Pet1:10  "diligence" into 1:11,12
 
His kingdom is in Him  Rom14:17
 
very few in Him 1Jn2:6; 3:6
 
also born of GOD 1Jn3:9; 5
His righteousness:   thru obedient faith...
 
note: justify + set right is the same Greek
 
Rom2:13  doing the law justifies
 
Rom3; 4:12-16  Jam2  faith works
 
Gal2; 3 thru faith, copying Abraham
 
till
 
1Cor1:30  "in Christ" (of Him 1Jn3:9)
 
...again in Rom6
 
Rom6:16  "obedience to righteousness"
 
Rom6:18  "slaves of righteousness"
 
 
 
the true heavenly promises are "in Christ" 2Cor1:20-22, if we
continue to be sealed by the Spirit, our guarantee Eph1:13,14; 4:30,
as the Spirit is life Jn4:10-14; 6:63; 7:37-39  2Cor3:6; 5:5  1Jn3:24; 5.