First 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.
For legalism, sins are the cause of separation from God. For grace, Sin is separation from God and the cause for all sins.
Literal Religion gives us their word from the Bible. Grace gives us God's Presence in Jesus!
OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Literal Religion: "Walk in it" is to obey the Law.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
"Who gives spiritual breath to the people in it and Spirit to those who walk in it."
Spiritual grace: "Walk in it" is the experience of His Presence in us.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
"Who gives spiritual breath to the people in it and Spirit to those who walk in it."
Can you tell the difference?
Literal religion sees what it wants us to see. Grace sees what God wants us to see!
PSALM: 29
Literal Religion: “The voice of the Lord” is audible thunder on the earth.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
"The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters."
Spiritual grace: "The voice of the Lord” is the experience of spiritual thunder within us.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
"The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory spiritually thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters."
Can you tell the difference?
Legalism can't find God for the same reason a thief can't find a policeman!
EPISTLE: Acts 10:34-43
Literal Religion: "No partiality” is conditional and exclusive to those who are good.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
"Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality."
Spiritual grace: "No partiality” is unconditional and inclusive grace to everyone both bad and good.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
"Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality."
Can you tell the difference?
Legalism is living up to a standard of Law. Grace is living out a relationship of Love!
GOSPEL: Matthew 3:13-17
Literal Religion: "Fulfill” means to follow the law in every part of it.
Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.
Jesus answered, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness."
Spiritual grace: "Fulfill” means to experience its meaning.
Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture.
Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness."
Can you tell the difference?
Being legalistic is a wheel barrow that needs to be pushed. Grace is a cruise ship that can be sailed!
Share your insights in the comments below
For further study see the follow on Epiphany I Meditation.
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