My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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Romans 10:8 … The Word in your Heart<br />
(05/12/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“The Word is near you;<br />
on your lips and in your Heart.”<br />
~ Paul (Romans 10:8)<br />
As Paul rarely (if ever) knew, The Word of God is only on our lips when<br />
what flows from our lips comes from the Heart – untainted by need or fear,<br />
unblemished by want or manipulation, unmarred by passive-aggressive whining<br />
or aggressive critique, unstained by arrogance of belief or certainty of epiphany<br />
… Indeed, far more often than not, words do not carry anything but the thinly<br />
veiled & thickly selfish pinings of the quivering ego. And indeed, far more often<br />
than not, it is deeds and deeds alone that most fully broadcast the Way of the<br />
Heart. And Jesus comes right out and says as much in John 13 – comes right out<br />
and says that the only way <strong>to</strong> attain his version of Salvation is <strong>to</strong> put selfless<br />
Love in<strong>to</strong> practice (see John 13:15-<strong>17</strong>, also Matthew 7:21-24, Matthew 24:12-14,<br />
along with almost every single one of his parables in the Gospels).<br />
And even more evidence that Paul just “didn‟t get it” is found in the very next<br />
verse (Romans 10:9), when he says “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord<br />
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” –<br />
a theology that directly contradicts the “Good News” of Jesus Christ (see Mark<br />
10:18, John 5:41, John 12:44 et al); a “Gospel” that quite clearly noted A) that<br />
Heaven was not some post-mortem paradise, but was rather already right Here &<br />
right Now – already fully<br />
“at hand” in every moment<br />
of every sentient being‟s life<br />
(see Matthew 10:7) -- and B)<br />
that attaining entrance in<strong>to</strong><br />
this glorious State of Being<br />
was possible only by<br />
persistently & actively &<br />
humbly giving selfless Love<br />
<strong>to</strong> others (see Matthew 24:12-<br />
14) -- especially our<br />
enemies (see Matthew 5:43-<br />
48) &/or the downtrodden in<br />
our communities (see<br />
Matthew 25:35-40).<br />
Amen ... Let it be so.<br />
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