Second Sunday in Epiphany
Unlocking the Gospel Secrets of Spirituality
Discover what difference reading these scriptures while Thinking Leaglism or Feeling Grace can make.
The Grace Language of Jesus
SPIRITUALITY CAN CHANGE OUR LIFE
The Bottom line is the final result measuring our net gain or loss. A man fell off a fifty story building. Half way down he murmured, “so far so good.” His life depended on whether he fell into the safety net or not. Quietly moving into the Presence of God’s grace is our spiritual safety net. We all have these moments when we either fall in or out of the net. These meditations give us a chance to practice the shift from the literal religion to the spiritual grace.
For legalism, sins are the cause of separation from God. For grace, Sin is separation from God and the cause for all sins.
Literal Religion gives us their word from the Bible. Grace gives us God's Presence in Jesus!
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 tell the difference?
Literal religion thinks all truth is literal. Grace knows the difference between literal and spiritual truth!
PSALM: 40:1-11
Literal Religion: “Your Law is within my heart.” refers to the written Law and Commandments that are memorized by heart.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Spiritual grace: “Your Law is within my heart.” refers to being conscious of His Love to respond to others in Love.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Can you tell the difference?
Either literal religion will keep you away from grace, or Grace will keep you away from legalism!
EPISTLE: Corinthians 1:1-9
Literal Religion: “Sanctified” is for certain Christians who have done great things.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.”
Spiritual grace: “Sanctified” is for all those who are Christians.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.”
Can you tell the difference?
Literal religion stirs up anger. Grace turns away wrath!
GOSPEL: John 1:29-42
Literal Religion: “sin” is an immoral act against God.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Spiritual grace: “Sin” is separation from God that causes the symptoms of “sins”.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Can you tell the difference?
In literal religion, decisions made in the past determine how we feel now. In grace, being in God’s Presence now determines how we feel about the decisions made in the past!
Share your insights in the comments below
For further study see the follow on Epiphany II Meditation.
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