Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima
The greatest lesson is not simply to believe in Jesus, but to live as He lived. "The practical application of the Christ-life in thy daily experience is Wisdom indeed." (262-104) Christianity is not only about attending church, reading the Bible, or speaking about Jesus. It is about allowing the spirit of Christ to become part of our everyday lives. "The Spirit of the Christ will and does direct thee! If ye live the Christ-life!" (262-117) The question for every person is not simply, "Do I believe in Christ?" but "Am I living the Christ-life today?"
The Christ-life begins with choosing Christ as our highest ideal. "First know What Is Thy Ideal!... Seek to know the Christ Consciousness!" (1167-2) We are also told, "Do find first an ideal... For the Christ-life takes the individual where he is, not where he would like to be or where others judge him to be. The knowledge of Him can only be found within self." (3344-1) Christ accepts us where we are, but He does not leave us there. Every day He invites us to become a little more like Him.
Living the Christ-life is shown by how we treat other people. "Begin where thou art; using today those abilities... to demonstrate the love of the Christ-Life that thou knowest innately within thee. But be joyous in all thou doest. Smile often, for SMILING is catching—but sadness drives away." (518-1) We do not need to wait for better circumstances before following Christ. We begin where we are today. Every act of kindness, patience, forgiveness, honesty, and encouragement becomes an opportunity to reveal His spirit.
Prayer should also change the way we live. "Lord, let me fill that place, that purpose in the lives of those I contact day by day... Let that spirit of truth as manifest in Jesus the Christ be magnified in my speech, my activity... Let me look up into the face of the Christ, with the pure purpose that each word, each act may be in the true spirit of the Christ-life." (262-118) This prayer is not asking for wealth or success. It asks that every word and every action reflect Christ. Prayer is meant to transform the person who prays.
The Christ-life also means forgetting ourselves and thinking more about others. "Let me so forget myself... that I may the more magnify the love that is shown in the spirit of the Christ-life." (262-118) We are also reminded to "Lose self more and more in the Christ Consciousness." (792-2) Much of our unhappiness comes from thinking too much about ourselves. As we become less concerned with self and more concerned with serving Christ and serving others, we begin to experience His peace.
One of the strongest lessons is not to judge other people. We are reminded, "As with Him, He found no fault in others." (5758-1) Instead, we are encouraged to show "Less and less condemning of others and more and more of self manifesting that love shown by the Father through the Son in the material world." (5758-1) Rather than looking for faults in others, we should ask how we can better reflect Christ ourselves. We are also told, "He that is the greatest will be the servant of all." (5758-1) Christ showed this by serving others with humility, reminding us that true greatness is measured by love and service.
The Christ-life is deeply personal. "The teaching, the consciousness of the Christ-life is a PERSONAL thing... They that are aware of His abiding presence are the nearer. They that walk with Him and do not, cannot, will not force themselves on others—even as He!" (1703-3) Our relationship with Christ is not measured by belonging to the right group or winning arguments. It is measured by walking with Him each day and allowing His spirit to guide our lives.
The Christ-life is also joyful. "The religion, the principle of the Christ-life is joyous!" (3003-1) Joy is one of the signs that Christ is becoming alive within us. Fear, worry, and discouragement lose their power as we remember that "Christ is the light that shines into the dark places... and casts out fear." (243-10) We are repeatedly reminded of His comforting words, "Be not afraid, it is I." (69-5)
Christ invites us to meet Him within. "Thy body is indeed the temple of the living God. Turn within. There He hath promised to meet thee." (69-5) Through quiet prayer and meditation we learn to listen instead of simply speaking. Our prayer becomes, "Father, God! In that Thou hast given to me the Christ Consciousness, may I—in my daily walks before my fellow man—manifest the spirit of the Christ; in humbleness, in love, in patience, in longsuffering." (262-118) Christ is never far away. He waits for us to open our hearts and become aware of His presence.
His promises are repeated again and again. "If ye love me, I will come and abide with thee." (262-117) "If ye will but open the door of thy consciousness, of thy heart, I will enter and abide with thee." (1632-2) "When ye call I will hear—and answer speedily." (165-26) "My peace I give unto thee." (543-11) "I will never leave thee, so long as thou claimest me as thy guide." (1614-2) We are encouraged to receive these promises personally: "Study well those promises... and know that these refer to thee. In each line, in each verse, see self receiving those promises, those blessings that He has promised." (272-8)
The purpose of life is not simply to know about Christ but to become more like Him. "The practical application of the Christ-life in thy daily experience is Wisdom indeed." (262-104) As we choose love over anger, forgiveness over judgment, service over pride, and faith over fear, Christ becomes visible in our lives. Then His promise becomes our daily experience: "Lo, I am with thee always." (622-6)
No comments:
Post a Comment