Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jun 19, 2014 | Comments (0)


Third Sunday after Pentecost

Click here to go to the Bottom Line Meditations for the Third Sunday after Pentecost

Godly Abiding Spiritually in Jesus Changes the Meaning of What we See Worldly When Not Abiding in Jesus.

Spirituality is our innate ability to feel the difference worldly or godly thinking makes to the way scripture translates to our daily life and relationships.

All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God. He is the complete revelation of God’s will of grace for salvation. Grace is the only unfailing rule of faith and practice for the Christian life.

The Gospel of grace is: rather than trying to be more faithful to become faithful, we become faithful by feeling the Faith God already has for and in us.

The Strength of Christianity is Grace

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Another name for Jesus is "Grace". Another name for God is "Grace". We are saved by GRACE. "Love" is not Love if it is not grace. This is true for "Faith", "Hope", "Joy" and all other theological words of significance in the scripture.

Until someone experiences the grace gift in their lives, all other theological words have no real meaning. Why not begin to use the word "grace" in place of "Jesus", "God", "the Spirit", "Love" and so on? It might seem inappropriate to do so. However, until it is actually experienced it will make no sense at all.

That is what this year is all about. Grace, did you get it?

 

Grace tastes great and not filling.  We have a spiritual immune system of Peace where depression grief cannot abide.

Pray this prayer from the Collect for this Sunday:

”O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name.”

Now quietly move into God's Presence and pray the prayer again:

“O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name.”

Did you feel the difference?

 

Matthew 10:40-42 “Anyone who welcomes a prophet”

Welcome The Messenger or The Message?

With literal thinking, people may see their pastors as prophets because they said they are. This is “because the Bible tells us so.” From Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Thinking literally, whenever your pastor may stand before the gathered assembly he can speak with more power because you must do your duty to him and through him. Pastors are hurt deeply to see people ignore the counsel of God they share in messages or Bible lessons. Some people “blow off” the Word of God, doing so not only to their own hurt but also to the hurt of those who are around them. Young people especially have the tendency to ignore the counsel of those older than they, making the mistake of trusting their own wisdom as well as their own heart. A pastor shares precepts from God’s Word because he desires not only to serve God but to feed the flock the spiritual food that will result in their experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised. They are characterized by sincere devotion to the Word and to prayer so that they can rule in God’s power and wisdom and impart to the flock spiritual meat to make them healthy and vibrant Christians. He is worthy of double honor and obedience as he declares the plain teachings of God.

In spiritual understanding, none of this makes sense. It is not what Jesus meant. His words were not to welcome a prophet. He said “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet.” This means if the pastor is not saying what is scriptural then you do not have to follow what he is saying. We do not welcome the prophet or disciple. We welcome the message of the prophet or disciple. If Jesus is the Word of God, then the pastor’s work must be the Word of the Love of God. When we open ourselves consciously in our hearts to their words of God’s Love, we receive God. A righteous person is not one who does the right thing. A righteous person is one who is in a right relationship with God. When they are in this relationship they will do and say the right thing by sharing the Love of God and grace unconditionally and inclusively with anyone who is open to it.

Spiritually, we know how to welcome a disciple which literal thinking does not know. We do this by opening ourselves consciously to their words of the Love of God.

Jesus told us to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. Just welcoming disciples, prophets and righteous people will not put us in the Kingdom. Rationally knowing how to seek and abide in the Kingdom by opening our heart and becoming conscious of the Presence is not seeking the Kingdom. The only way to seek the Kingdom is to do it. When we do it we need to sense the difference being in or out of the Presence makes.

When not abiding in Jesus we are human beings on a spiritual journey. We are being literal and our thoughts create our feelings. When abiding in Jesus we are spiritual beings on a human journey. The grace feelings create our thoughts.

Rationally, we seek to solve our problems to get peace.  Spiritually, we seek the Peace of God to gain the Wisdom of God. One way to seek the Wisdom of the Kingdom is to create the feeling of Peace with our thought. Try thinking of a favorite spiritual event such as a Christmas carol. As you think of it, your thought will create a feeling of Peace or Love. Now think of something else but stay conscious of the feeling. Feelings are created by thoughts. When we sense our inner feeling it is created by the Mind of God.

“O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name.”


THE DISCIPLE-SHIFT: The Virtual Small Group: Members share once a week with their group through the internet when a shift from being out to being in the Presence made a difference.


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