The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITY WAY August 22, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------ Secrets of Faith: Love by Andrei Yashurin Speaking on faith, we need to deal with the following question: "Does faith imply fight and struggle?" And if our answer is "yes", probably we are still bound by some preconceived ideas about faith. Those ideas are far from being innocent - they block our development and turn our energies into wrong channels. Certainly, Paul wrote about "fighting the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), but here he made a marginal reference, not outlined a detailed teaching. If he would be asked to elaborate this point, he probably would explained it in terms of renewing the mind and cleansing it from error rather than outward confrontation. When a person thinks that he/she should fight, there is usually an implication that the world is hostile and dangerous. But the reality about the world, as we stated a number of times, is different. The universe where we live is made of love and governed by love - just because God is Love. It is a friendly place. It is responsive to our needs and wants. If we stay attuned to this universal love, our desires will come true easily and naturally. "You are an indispensable part of the universe, and as such the universe loves, protects, and cherishes you. In so caring for you the universe is self-preserving. You are safe. You are inconceivable valuable. Nothing opposes you. You are in the midst of friends", wrote Imelda Shanklin. Our thoughts are always brought to visible manifestations. So, when we constantly think of fighting, we create for ourselves an opposition to fight with. When we are getting ready for conflicts, enemies appear. Little do we know that we are fighting with ourselves. To start with, we need to believe that the world is full of love for us and for all its inhabitants. Then, let us allow love to flow through us. Love should inspire our actions. Let us seek to be loving in our goal-setting, in our decision-making, and even in our daily routine. If we will invest new love into actions which are habitual to us, it will uplift our performance and save us from boredom. We should never use our powers without taking love into consideration. Forced attempts to achieve selfish goals are vain and futile. They may appear to be successful for a while, but at the end their fruit will be sour. They will cause discord, tension, and exhaustion. No lasting fulfillment will ever come without love. Paul wrote that "faith is working through love" (Galatians 5:6). Here we see three great aspects of our being closely united. Indeed, it is not wise to talk of faith vs. works, or of love vs. faith. They complete each other. Performing His great acts of faith, Jesus was moved with compassion, that is, with love. Likewise, love will prompt us to acts of service, in which we won't be conscious of ourselves. God will flow through us unrestrictedly, and we will be blessed as the result of it. Love is closely tied with abundance mentality. It means, a loving person does not withhold his/her blessings from others, being willing to share and knowing that God will never leave him/her empty. Love will make us courageous in giving. Love is closely tied with freedom. A loving person does not want to manipulate others. He/she frees them to express themselves, to find their own good in their own way. Control lacks both love toward people and faith in people. Loving actions fulfill the law of Being, and as such, they are backed by God and all of God's resources. Is there anything greater we can dream of? ------------------------------------------------------ Andrei Yashurin: pczine@yandex.ru http://pcjournal.ru/talks Talks on Truth If you like our list, please recommend it to others. All messages (c) 2004 by Andrei Yashurin -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=lit.unityway&email= http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com