Sixth 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.
Jesus took words with literal religious belief and gave them a spiritual grace meaning. Literal religious words are beliefs that are conditional, exclusive and for special groups. Spiritual grace words are experiences that are inclusive, unconditional and for all
For legalism, sins are the cause of separation from God. For grace, Sin is separation from God and the cause for all sins.
When grace loves literalists it confuses them!
OLD TESTAMENT: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Literal Religion: “See” means to see physical life or death.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity?”
Spiritual grace: “See” means to spiritually see life in His Presence or death out of His Presence.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.”
Can you feel the difference?
Pharisaic Literalism was once a rich man's sport but now it has millions of poor players!
PSALM: 119:1-8
Literal Religion: “Blameless” means not to sin in order to walk in the Law of the Lord.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“Happy are those whose way is spiritually blameless, who walk in the Love of the LORD.”
Spiritual grace: “Blameless” means being in the Lord’s Presence to follow the way of Love.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“Happy are those whose way is spiritually blameless, who walk in the Love of the LORD.”
Can you feel the difference?
A religious literalist has an advantage over a fisherman. He doesn't have to produce anything to prove his story!
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?
The only reason I am a literalist is to bug my wife. She thinks I'm having fun!
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:21-37
Literal Religion: Adultery in the heart calls for confession of sin.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Spiritual grace: Sin in the heart calls for a change of heart.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Can you feel the difference?
Where can you find 100 religous literalists all at the same place on Sunday? In church!
Share your insights in the comments below
For further study see the follow on Epiphany VI Meditation.
Comments (0)