Sixth Sunday of Easter

Bottom Line Spirituality: Worldly and Godly Thinking

Click here to go to the Bottom Line Meditations for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

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.

John 14:23-29 "Those who love me will keep my word. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”

SPIRITUALITY CHANGES OUR LIFE

We try to change our worldly life to feel God’s Presence.

Godly feeling His Presence changes our life.

We read the Word of God to feel the Spirit of God.

Feeling the Spirit of God in us changes how we read the Word.

Here is a chance for those who like a biblical mystery to go back right now and discover what the major clue is.

You have been warned so now here is the mystery clue. Most commentaries miss this. We can miss it because at times when we read ahead of ourselves we miss John’s subtle differences. He gives us the definition of “word” in the first chapter. He then gives us opportunities to discover and experience the word.

When you read the commentaries they center on “keeping the word if we love Jesus”. Their definitions of “word” can be all over the place. If we want to know what is John’s definition of “word” all we need to do is go back to the first Chapter. “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, the Word was God.” John 1:1 John’s definition of “the Word” is the “One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Whenever we read “the Word”, it refers to the experience of the Presence of the grace and truth of God in Jesus. When Jesus is saying He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He is referring to Himself as the Word. It is His way of grace. The Greek word for “truth” can either mean truth as theology or as reality. When God is seeking true worshippers, (John 4:23) it means “real”, not P.C., worshippers. Jesus is the Life and the Light of the world. John 1:9 His Word is grace and truth in contrast to the Law which came through Moses. John 1:17

Our choice is to the take the word of the Bible or to take the Word of Jesus. This does not mean we do not read the scriptures. It means we read them with grace and truth. It means if whatever is said is to do the loving thing, we follow it. If not, we do not. It was so simple how Jesus turned the whole Law and prophets into guidelines for loving.

Here comes the missing clue that few, if any, commentaries pick up. You must ask yourself if this is perhaps just a mistake or did John actually intend this difference. If he did, someone would have called him out for it. I find no such reference.

Read it again for your last chance to pick it up. "Those who love me will keep my word. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.”

There it is. Those who love me will keep my Word. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. John uses the “Word” twenty four times in His Gospel.  He uses “words” eighteen times.

John makes a difference between the living Word and His words of teaching. We should not confuse Jesus, the Word, with the teachings of His words. It changes our approach to what is being written. If there is no difference between the two, they both become about His teachings.

If there is no difference, the meaning is, “the words you hear are not mine, but are from the Father who sent me.”  This is to emphasize a greater regard and attention to His teaching, truths, and ordinances rather than to experience who He is.

The next sentence, “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” means if we are not abiding in Him no matter what we do, we cannot keep His teaching. “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Wonder what difference it makes between reading the “Word” as the teachings of Jesus or as the experience of the Living Word.

Revelation 22:5 “There will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light.”

Spirituality can change our life by taking us out of our spiritual darkness by feeling the spiritual light of His Presence.