Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Nov 03, 2014 | Comments (0)


Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations

Unlocking the Gospel Secrets of Spirituality

Discover what difference reading these scriptures while Thinking Legalism or Feeling Grace can make.

The Grace Language of Jesus

SPIRITUALITY CAN CHANGE OUR LIFE

Jesus spoke a foreign language. He took literal words the legalist understood and gave them a new spiritual meaning.

Not sure how to apply these? Click here to read the introductory text for the new Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Judges 4:1-7

Literal Religion: Depends on their rational knowledge to judge.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel.”

Spiritual Grace: Depends on God’s spiritual Wisdom to judge.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was spiritually judging Israel.”

Did you feel the Grace?

Grace does not have an attitude problem. Legalism has a perception problem!

PSALM: 123

Literal Religion: Eyes see the physical.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!”

Spiritual Grace: Spiritual eyes see the unseen.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“To you I consciously lift up my spiritual eyes, O you who are enthroned in my heart!”

Did you feel the Grace?

Grace asks where did you come from? Legalism refuses to tell you where you are going!

EPISTLE: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Literal Religion: Light and darkness is rational.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“You are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.”

Spiritual Grace: Light is spiritually in the Presence and darkness is rationally out of the Presence.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“You are all children of spiritual light and children of the day; we are not of the night of rational darkness.”

Did you feel the Grace?

Legalism can't convince you, it confuses you!

GOSPEL: Matthew 25:14-30

Literal Religion: Counts how many talents were given.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.”

Spiritual Grace: Knows we all have enough spiritual talents.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted His spiritual property to them.”

Did you feel the Grace?

God gives us a brain and a heart but they can only run one at a time!

Share your insights in the comments below

For further study see the follow on Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost Meditation.


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