Power

I recently spoke at the Hope's Journey Bible Study. I opened my talk with this line. "A new kind of Christian no longer lives a spiritual life to please God." I saw a few heads snap up and give me a look that said "uh, what did you just say?" So I repeated it. I would ask you to read it again. Go ahead. You see most of us who are Christian think that we live a life of spirituality because it will somehow please God. We forget that that has already been taken care of through the act of Christ on the Cross. This is what the word grace is all about. Jesus took care of any need to make sure God is pleased.

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

Most of us know this verse in a different translation that says, "there is therefore no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus." We forget that the power we have is a life that is free to be lived in spiritual practice because it is the best way to live! We do not live this life to make sure that God is happy and to make sure that everything go right for us, somehow thinking that if I do certain things in certain ways everything will be exactly as I plan it. We need to remember that Jesus Christ lived the most perfect life you could, but was faced with temptation, trails, and finally the ultimate rejection.

No we live a spiritual life because it is the best way to live. It gives us a different point of view of life and the circumstances of life. A spiritual life is the best way to live because it sees opportunities in "failure." It sees that there is no way to happiness, that happiness is the way. Living a spiritual life, a life full of spiritual practices, gives us joy and peace that cannot be explained. It bring us joy to be in the service of others. A spiritual life brings others freedom because they are attracted to the peace we have in the mist of what they see as dire circumstances. Jesus' practical spiritual advice to us was this - love. So today do just that - love. Let someone in line in front of you. Serve that person at work that you do not like, help them in some way. Be compassionate with that angry person and understand what they may be going through and stop taking it so personally. Stop and be silent and know God. The power that you gain from this will be felt immediately. It will not be a power that rules over, but a power that is enpowering to you. It will be that power of peace, joy, patience, love, forgiveness - the fruits of being connected spiritually to your Creator. This is true power, not in attempting to please God through being spiritual, but in living a spiritual life because we are free to and it is the best way to live!

Namaste'