Jesus made the world friendlier. He revealed how to live as a child of God, and following in this way, we discover that our Father in heaven is also a friend within. And divine friendship is equally open to women as well as men.
Jesus showed us how to transform our consciousness of duty. In morality and ethics, duty is essential; but isolated duty-consciousness loses touch with reality and with God. Duty-consciousness can be stained with fear of the consequences if we fail to perform our duty, resentment at duty felt as a burden, or self-righteous pride in doing our duty in an outward manner, while our concealed motivation is not beautiful. From Jesus we can learn to do the right thing as a friend and for a friend. Acting in that way transforms us. We make personal and wholehearted moral decisions, and carry them out in his spirit of friendliness.
When the professed followers of Jesus unite in this friendliness and reach out as family to the rest of God’s children, this world will breathe a sign of relief.
The painting reproduced above shows the friendly universe expressed in angelic guidance and in parental care for a helpless infant in a dangerous world.
Flight into Egypt (Melk Altar by Jörg Breu the Elder, 1502)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Melker_Altar_-_Flucht.JPG/1000px-Melker_Altar_-_Flucht.JPG
Jeff, I read your blog often. I appreciate the quality and variety of your posts! This Christmas season, I’ve heard the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” many times. It’s not really a Christmas song, but it has joined the repertoire of carols that beautify the season of joy. When else can we walk through store aisles and hear songs about peace and brotherhood? I’ve been marveling about that. The lyrics were written in 1955 after a profound experience of God’s unconditional love. “With God as our Father, brothers all are we, Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
Vicki, thanks for letting me know that you read this sometimes lonely expression. It feels less lonely with each active visitor. Today I hardly feel lonely, though, because of new realization of love. I know that I should never allow myself to feel lonely.
Thank you for this insightful observation and lovely reminder. I grew up singing that very song. “With God as our Father, brothers all are we, Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” The love that I now feel brings me that peace. See your comment has led to this little reply in the course of which my experience is expanded. How wonderful is conversation like that!
Jeff, I read your blog often. I appreciate the quality and variety of your posts! This Christmas season, I’ve heard the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” many times. It’s not really a Christmas song, but it has joined the repertoire of carols that beautify the season of joy. When else can we walk through store aisles and hear songs about peace and brotherhood? I’ve been marveling about that. The lyrics were written in 1955 after a profound experience of God’s unconditional love. “With God as our Father, brothers all are we, Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
Vicki, thanks for letting me know that you read this sometimes lonely expression. It feels less lonely with each active visitor. Today I hardly feel lonely, though, because of new realization of love. I know that I should never allow myself to feel lonely.
Thank you for this insightful observation and lovely reminder. I grew up singing that very song. “With God as our Father, brothers all are we, Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” The love that I now feel brings me that peace. See your comment has led to this little reply in the course of which my experience is expanded. How wonderful is conversation like that!
Merry Christmas. We are truly more blessed than we can ever know. The Father has given us these eternal blessing of love and friendship that we can share and experience now. If only we would allow them to flow through us, how happy we would all be and how happy the world would be. Yes there are times when we feel humanly alone, and sometimes, we are not always conscious that we are never alone spiritually, that in fact the Father is going through all of these experience with each and every one of us and his love travels with us.
Yes happy birthday to the Son of God, Jesus as we celebrate this day of his accepted birthday. What a wonderful gift he has given to us, that we should be able to live the heavenly life while we still tread the path of this lowly mortal life.
And thank you brother Jeff for your constant faith in proclaiming these truths in so many ways. Just think all of these values and meanings that you have discovered will be an eternal possession of your soul.
Dr. Perry
Spoken as a knower of reality.
Thank you for your companionship in this work.
You’re welcome.
Merry Christmas. We are truly more blessed than we can ever know. The Father has given us these eternal blessing of love and friendship that we can share and experience now. If only we would allow them to flow through us, how happy we would all be and how happy the world would be. Yes there are times when we feel humanly alone, and sometimes, we are not always conscious that we are never alone spiritually, that in fact the Father is going through all of these experience with each and every one of us and his love travels with us.
Yes happy birthday to the Son of God, Jesus as we celebrate this day of his accepted birthday. What a wonderful gift he has given to us, that we should be able to live the heavenly life while we still tread the path of this lowly mortal life.
And thank you brother Jeff for your constant faith in proclaiming these truths in so many ways. Just think all of these values and meanings that you have discovered will be an eternal possession of your soul.
Dr. Perry
Spoken as a knower of reality.
Thank you for your companionship in this work.
You’re welcome.
Hi Jeff,
Inexplicably, it is my good fortune to occasionally receive Google+ notices with links to your thoughtful and uplifting blogs. Hopefully by checking the boxes below, I will get them on a more regular basis. Very nice to see the “followers of Jesus” concept, especially among our brethren, expressed so elegantly as simple, genuine friendliness. Uncomplicated, non-intellectual, easily grasped by all . . .
All good blessings, Brother Bob (El Toro)
Inexplicably, it is my good fortune to have occasional occasion to think of you. Thank you for your understanding and for manifesting with a comment!
Hi Jeff,
Inexplicably, it is my good fortune to occasionally receive Google+ notices with links to your thoughtful and uplifting blogs. Hopefully by checking the boxes below, I will get them on a more regular basis. Very nice to see the “followers of Jesus” concept, especially among our brethren, expressed so elegantly as simple, genuine friendliness. Uncomplicated, non-intellectual, easily grasped by all . . .
All good blessings, Brother Bob (El Toro)
Inexplicably, it is my good fortune to have occasional occasion to think of you. Thank you for your understanding and for manifesting with a comment!