Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Bottom Line Spirituality: Worldly and Godly Thinking

Click here to go to the Bottom Line Meditations for Ninth 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.

Remember: The DISCIPLE-SHIFT

(see Pentecost Sunday Meditation by Clicking Here)

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.

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 us trying to build a life of faith for God, we become a life of faith by God when consciously feeling the Faith He has in us.

The War on Legalism

God declared War on Legalism when He sent His Word into the World. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us … full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Legalism fought back against grace believing the Bible, not Jesus, is the word of God. Grace is based on the Two Great Love Commandments. All the Law and the Prophets have now been changed into “do the loving thing.” Matthew 22:37-40 The New Command is to be in His Presence in order to Love one another. John 13:34 “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Galatians 6:18 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” The difference between legalism and grace is that legalism has to make sense.

Luke 10:38-42 “There is need of only one thing.”

This is a story for all “A” type personalities. Jesus has been invited by Martha to have a meal with His three friends. After the meal He begins to share with them about being in the Presence of God. Martha is concerned about getting the dishes done. Let us remember this is not about having a meal with Jesus. When you invite Him, you invite them all; all twelve of “them”. Preparing the meal was quite a job and then cleaning up is perhaps even more difficult.

Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. Martha complained to Jesus to tell Mary to come in and help her. Well it was not exactly like that. She had to get her guilt trip in on Him as well. "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."

Jesus’ reply is, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”

Legalism looks at what Martha was griping about. Obviously, Martha should be sitting with Mary and listening to His teaching, rather than cleaning the pots and pans. Mary has discovered the “only one thing” and that is to sit quietly and listen to Jesus, Done!

I have heard many church women, especially on the altar guild, trying to protect them-selves by saying in a guilty tone, “I guess I am like Martha, always too busy and distracted.”

Grace looks not about what Martha said but how she said it. Let’s play “What If?” What if Martha is in the kitchen cleaning the pots and pans. Mary is sitting with Jesus listening about being in the Presence. She turns to Jesus and says, "Lord, do you not care that my sister is banging the pots and pans in the kitchen? I am so distracted I cannot follow what you are teaching. Tell her to stop the racket."  Jesus’ reply to Mary would be, “Mary, Mary, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” What is the one thing? It is learning how to feel the Peace of God in all situations.

One time when I had a bible study group one woman’s little child began to make noise and move around the group. The ladies became distracted. I pointed out to them they could feel the Peace of God even if the child was moving around. There was a Peace that then came into the group. The child even became peaceful. Nothing had changed except they made the shift from the head to the heart. Did Martha get it? Would Mary have gotten it? Do you get it?

We do not change a way of thinking in our head but we shift to feeling the Love of God in our heart.

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.