Tag: new birth

Kingdom at Hand

…unfettered love, understanding, compassion, wisdom, purity, righteousness, joy and hope.

Meditation Thought: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

The time of growing, of labor, and birth is over! That which was longed for is here: God upon earth!!! God in each one upon earth, but when recognized as being present, then does a new birth occur: a birth of unfettered love, understanding, compassion, wisdom, purity, righteousness, joy and hope.

To know that God is within us – a part of every part of us, is to transform our thinking, our actions, our emotions, and our reactions.

No longer do we believe when we are ‘attacked’ that the ‘best defense is a good offense’ – but that the best defense (the one that will benefit both ourselves and our ‘attacker’) is to love him who seeks to distress us: to love him in ways pleasing to him (fulfilling his needs, in pure, righteous manners. of course).

As long as we have in our minds a concept of ‘defense and offence’ we are continuing a battle and coping with an enemy. When we are thinking in terms of loving our attacker we have already won the battle – and so has he. Enemies no longer – but friends, seeking to use energies formerly to hurt each other now to help each other. The kingdom is at hand!

Birth of the Spirit

For the Spirit is Love, Wisdom, Kindness, Grace, Forgiveness, Righteousness and Glory: the Kingdom within.

Meditation Thought: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit…the Son of Man [must] be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:6-8, 14b-15)

Like begets like: your birth in the Spirit is conceived when you choose by faith to accept the Spirit as real and desirable to live in you and guide you.

No one sees, or hears, the birth of the Spirit within you – nevertheless all can see the results of that birth. And as the Spirit grows within you, so even more clearly are the results seen: there is a marked change for the better in temperament, in personality, in emotions, in behavior, in attitude, in the physical areas: no part is left untouched by the Spirit, and no part is left unenhanced by the Spirit. For the Spirit is Love, Wisdom, Kindness, Grace, Forgiveness, Righteousness and Glory: the Kingdom within.

The very existence of the Kingdom so close to the world makes a difference in the world.

Beloved, Cherished, Trusting

Lord, here I am – your beloved child, your cherished child and at least at some level, your trusting child. Therefore, I yield to your will; I seek your guidance; I trust you to take good care of me.

Meditation Thought: “In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3)

How exciting a new birth is – the joy of creation, the awe for this little one who is so helpless, yet so precious. That must be the way you feel about me! It must be the way you feel about everyone!

If I can think of myself as your precious little one whom you are giving wonderful, loving care – but are also having to be ‘tough’ with at times because you know what is best for me, then perhaps I will trust you more fully and obey you more diligently, knowing that you will in the end be the one that was right after all!

Lord, here I am – your beloved child, your cherished child and at least at some level, your trusting child. Therefore, I yield to your will; I seek your guidance; I trust you to take good care of me.

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