Seventh 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 spoke a foreign language. He took literal words the legalist understood and gave them a new spiritual meaning.
For legalism, sins are the cause of separation from God. For grace, Sin is separation from God and the cause for all sins.
Legalism thinks all truth is literal. Grace knows the difference between literal and spiritual truth!
OLD TESTAMENT: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Literal Religion: We become holy by following the law.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”
Spiritual grace: We are holy in the Lord’s Presence so we can follow His will.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy in you.”
Can you feel the difference?
I love legalism. I live legalism. If only I could do legalism!
PSALM: 119:33-40
Literal Religion: God turns our heart from selfish gain.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.”
Spiritual grace: God turns our heart from selfish gain when we let Him.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“Turn my heart to your decrees in me, and not to selfish gain.”
Can you feel the difference?
Last week I missed a spectacular sin free day by only six sins!
EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Literal Religion: The wisdom of this world is not following the Law.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
“The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”
Spiritual grace: The wisdom of this world is being out of the grace of God.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
“The wisdom of this world is foolishness without God.”
Can you feel the difference?
My wife says if I don't give up legalism she'll leave me. That's bad luck. I know I'm really going to miss her!
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:38-48
Literal Religion: We become perfect by obeying the Law.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Spiritual grace: We become perfect by being in the Presence of God.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
Be spiritually perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Can you feel the difference?
First legalist: “I got a set of two tablets with the Ten Commandments on them for my wife!” Second Legalist: “Great trade.”
Share your insights in the comments below
For further study see the follow on Epiphany VII Meditation.
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