Blog Posts containing "Paul"

Year A Sixth Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Literal Religion: To get out of the “Flesh” we must stop doing what we are doing that is wrong. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “You are still of the flesh as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you.” Spiritual grace: “Flesh” means we must get into His Presence to stop doing what we are doing that is wrong. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “You are still of the flesh as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you.” Can you feel the difference?  Read more


Year A Fifth Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

PSALM: 112:1-9 (10) Literal Religion: We praise the Lord to delight in doing His commandments. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments.” Spiritual grace: We praise the Lord because we delight in doing His commandments. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments.” Can you feel the difference? Legalism calls the equipped. Grace equips the called!  Read more


Year A Fourth Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Micah 6:1-8 Literal Religion: The Lord requires us to follow His Commandments. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Spiritual grace: The Lord enables us to follow His Commandments when we are in His Love. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Can you feel the difference?  Read more


Year A Third Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

Old Testament: Isaiah 9:1-4 Literal Religion: “No gloom” refers to Israel. Read this scripture literally to find its religious meaning. “There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.” Spiritual grace: “No gloom” refers to us when we open our hearts to the light of His Love. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.” Can you feel the difference?   Read more


Year A Second Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

Old Testament: Isaiah 49:1-7 Literal Religion: “I will give you as a light” refers to Isaiah. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “I will give you as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Spiritual grace: “I will give you as a light” refers to our experience of His Presence. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “I will give you as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Can you feel the difference?  Read more


Year A First Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-9 Literal Religion: “Walk in it” is to obey the Law. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Who gives spiritual breath to the people in it and Spirit to those who walk in it.” Spiritual grace: “Walk in it” is the experience of His Presence in us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “Who gives spiritual breath to the people in it and Spirit to those who walk in it.” Can you tell the difference? Literal religion sees what it wants us to see. Grace sees what God wants us to see!  Read more


Year A Second Sunday After Christmas Bottom Line Meditations

Think literal Legalism: Legalism finds no consolation or closure about traumatic events. Feel the spiritual Grace: Grace finds consolation and closure in the Presence of God. Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Think literal Legalism: “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back.” Feel the spiritual Grace: “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back spiritually.”  Read more


Year A First Sunday After Christmas Bottom Line Meditations

Think literal Legalism: “Presence” is physical. Feel the spiritual Grace: “Presence” is spiritual. OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 63:7-9 Think literal Legalism: It was no messenger or angel but his physical presence that saved them. Feel the spiritual Grace: It was no messenger or angel but His spiritual Presence that saves them. Legalism looks for the key to happiness. Grace knows there is no key, the door is always open!  Read more


Year A Advent IV Bottom Line Meditations

Think literal Legalism: We literally “weary” God with our rational doubts. Feel the spiritual Grace: We spiritually “weary” God with our closed hearts. Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-16 Think literal Legalism: Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Feel the spiritual Grace: Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you spiritually weary my God also? Legalism hates and remembers. Grace forgives and forgets.  Read more


Year A Advent III Bottom Line Meditations

Think literal Legalism: Literally our “eyes” and “ears” are physical. Feel the spiritual Grace: Spiritually our “eyes” and “ears” are opened to the grace of God within us. Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 Think literal Legalism: The literally the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Feel the spiritual Grace: The spiritual eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the spiritual ears of the deaf unstopped.  Read more


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