In Jesus\u2019 day, people thought \u2018salvation\u2019 was being freed from Roman occupancy and returning the government to a righteous Jewish king (messiah) that would be selected by God. This religious governmental structure was called \u201cthe kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow when [Jesus] was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, \u201cThe kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, \u2018See here!\u2019 or \u2018See there!\u2019 For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.\u201d
\n~ Luke 17:20, 21<\/p>\n
When today\u2019s lesson says, \u201cMy salvation comes from me,\u201d it means the same thing that Jesus meant when he said, \u201cthe kingdom of God is within you.\u201d However, there is a lot more within you than the little self. \u201cMy salvation comes from me\u201d does not mean that the little self saves itself. It cannot. Nor does it mean that absolutely nothing is required of the little self.<\/p>\n
It may be helpful to look at it this way: There is no clear dividing line between the little self and truth. The little self\u2019s mental chatter is like the foam on a wave. The personal sense of self is like a wave. Internal wisdom is like the part of the ocean that can be reached by the light of the sun. The source is like the depth of the ocean that is beyond the sun\u2019s reach. Although on the one hand there are degrees of difference between these aspects of the ocean, they are all ocean.<\/p>\n
In this figurative example, you are the ocean. If you are the ocean, then you are the mental chatter, the individual sense of self, internal wisdom and the source. So when we say that your salvation comes from you, all these parts of you can participate in your salvation.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The part of the mind that engages in mental chatter can contemplate the workbook lesson or practice inquiry instead of chattering meaninglessly<\/p>\n
\u2022 The sense of self can rest in awareness instead of resting in mental chatter<\/p>\n
\u2022 Inner wisdom can provide guidance<\/p>\n
\u2022 The source can awaken us entirely<\/p>\n
As you see, “my salvation comes from me,” but it doesn\u2019t come from one part of me in a vacuum. All parts of me cooperate in salvation. From the perspective of the little self, I have a part in my awakening and God (grace, the universe) has a part in my awakening too. So as yesterday\u2019s lesson emphasized, I do my part and trust that God (the deeper parts of the ocean) will do its part.<\/p>\n
Awakening is a focus for the whole of me, or all of me, as one joined will.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Jesus\u2019 day, people thought \u2018salvation\u2019 was being freed from Roman occupancy and returning the government to a righteous Jewish king (messiah) that would be selected by God. This religious governmental structure was called \u201cthe kingdom of God.\u201d \u201cNow when [Jesus] was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18722","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-gentlehealing","7":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n