My Favorite Verses - Vol II (Mar 15 to Jul 16)
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings.
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings.
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Luke 6:30-35 … To Give the Giving<br />
(05/28/20<strong>15</strong>)<br />
The one time in the Bible where Jesus was intensely pressured in<strong>to</strong><br />
explaining the Salvation about which he so often spoke, he opened up and clearly<br />
stated that his ―Kingdom of Heaven‖ was not a paradise of pleasure <strong>to</strong> which we<br />
travel someday after we die, but rather is a state of Bliss-full Being that resides<br />
within each and every one of us in every moment of our lives; and this, regardless<br />
of our particular faith -- or even our possible lack thereof. (see Luke 17:20-21)<br />
And when Jesus was pressed in<strong>to</strong> explaining his many parables, he always<br />
reminded those listening in that the ―Kingdom of Heaven‖ of which he spoke<br />
could only be accessed via selfless actions of generosity & compassion &<br />
kindness -- especially those actions that require us <strong>to</strong> courageously sacrifice our<br />
own personal ease in order <strong>to</strong> bring a stranger solace; especially those actions that<br />
require us <strong>to</strong> courageously confront our own fears in order <strong>to</strong> bring an enemy<br />
forgiveness; especially those actions that require us <strong>to</strong> courageously sacrifice our<br />
own personal comfort <strong>to</strong> bring the downtrodden a renewed abundance of wealth or<br />
sustenance. (see Matthew 25:40, <strong>Mar</strong>k 10:21, Luke 14:13 et al).<br />
And the really neat thing about these particular teachings is: THEY<br />
ACTUALLY WORK! That's right, regardless of whether you are a Christian or<br />
not, every single person alive <strong>to</strong>day can enter Jesus' ―Kingdom of Heaven‖<br />
whenever they wish -- every single one of us can experience a sense of Happiness<br />
& Contentment beyond anything we have ever known before; an almost<br />
incapacitating welling up of Peace & Joy (a phenomenal sensation I call ―Bliss‖, for<br />
lack of a better term).<br />
And experiencing such Salvation doesn't require us <strong>to</strong> give any money <strong>to</strong> the<br />
poor -- indeed, money is never enough <strong>to</strong> do so even when it is given. For the<br />
mere gift of money is always <strong>to</strong>o easy, always <strong>to</strong>o cold, and always <strong>to</strong>o distanced.<br />
No, my Friends, <strong>to</strong> enter the ―Kingdom of Heaven‖ of which Jesus poke, all it<br />
takes is a little humility, a lot of courage, and then a short leap in<strong>to</strong> life as a<br />
selfless servant of anyone nearby who happens <strong>to</strong> be in need.<br />
For example …<br />
*Whenever you are hungry or thirsty and a<br />
beggar asks you for some spare change for<br />
some food & drink, and you take her by the<br />
hand, lead her <strong>to</strong> a restaurant, sit down with<br />
her there and buy her lunch or dinner instead ...<br />
you enter the Kingdom of Heaven.<br />
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