“The river of energy and life is a continuous outpouring from the Deities, the universal and united stream of Paradise force going forth to all space. This divine energy pervades all creation.” (42:1.5)

The “river of energy and life” in this verse refers to the continuous outpouring of divine energy from the Deities. This flow of energy as a universal and united stream that originates from Paradise, a spiritual realm often associated with the dwelling place of God. The term “river” refers to a dynamic and ever-flowing nature; it’s not static but it’s constantly in motion. The divine energy is fundamental to the functioning and existence of all creation, as it permeates and pervades everything in the cosmos.
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“I come in the flesh to reveal the Father in new glory and to show forth his love and mercy to all men on all worlds.” (142:2.2)

The words “I come in the flesh to reveal the Father in new glory and to show forth his love and mercy to all men on all worlds,” should immediately make us think about the incredible gift that has been bestowed upon humanity. These words invite us to contemplate the embodiment of divinity in human form, the remarkable revelation of the Father’s love and mercy to all beings across the vast expanse of existence. The verse speaks of a purposeful descent, a conscious decision of divine intervention to bridge the gap between the Creator and the created.

“I come in the flesh” resonates with the truth that the Divine chose to manifest in human form, to walk among us, to experience the joys and sorrows of mortal life. This act of incarnation reveals the depth of the Father’s love, His desire to intimately connect with each one of us. It is a declaration that we are not abandoned or forsaken, but rather embraced by a compassionate and caring God. With all that is taking place in this evil world, doesn’t it bring you comfort knowing that God cares for us and that He has not abandoned us?
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Yeshua “exhorted his hearers to strive for originality while they shunned all tendency toward eccentricity. He pleaded for sympathy without sentimentality, piety without sanctimoniousness. He taught reverence free from fear and superstition.” (149:4.4)

Yeshua encourages his disciples to pursue originality, which implies being creative, innovative, and authentic in their thoughts, actions, and expressions. At the same time, he advises against eccentricity, which refers to extreme or unconventional behavior that may be considered strange or abnormal. He teaches individuals to strike a balance between being unique and standing out while avoiding behaviors that might alienate or distance themselves from others.

Yeshua promotes sympathy without sentimentality. This means that he encourages people to show genuine empathy, understanding, and compassion towards others, but without being excessively emotional or sentimental. He seeks a balanced approach that acknowledges and responds to the emotions and needs of others while maintaining a rational and grounded perspective.

Yeshua also teaches piety without sanctimoniousness. Piety refers to devoutness or deep religious devotion, and he teaches us to cultivate a sincere and earnest religious or spiritual life. However, he warns against sanctimoniousness, which refers to self-righteousness or an excessive display of religious or moral superiority. Instead, Yeshua encourages humility and genuine piety that is expressed through actions and attitudes of love, kindness, and service to others.

Yeshua also teaches reverence that is free from unfounded fear and superstition. Reverence implies deep respect, honor, and awe towards something or someone of spiritual significance. However, Yeshua encourages people to approach reverence without being driven by illogical fear or superstitious beliefs. He teaches us about the importance of a relationship with the Creator based on love, trust, and understanding.

This verse captures Yeshua’s teachings on living a balanced and authentic spiritual life. It encourages his disciples to embrace their originality while avoiding extreme behavior, to show genuine empathy without excessive sentimentality, to pursue sincere piety without self-righteousness, and to approach reverence with a focus on love and understanding rather than fear and superstition.

Application

To apply Yeshua’s teachings in our lives, we can embrace originality by expressing our creativity, innovation, and authenticity in our thoughts, actions, and expressions while avoiding eccentricity and extreme behavior that may alienate others. We can cultivate sympathy without sentimentality, genuinely empathizing with others’ emotions and needs while maintaining a rational and grounded perspective. In our pursuit of piety, we should strive for sincere and earnest religious or spiritual devotion, practicing humility and avoiding self-righteousness or moral superiority.

When it comes to reverence, we should approach it with deep respect and awe, free from unfounded fear or superstitious beliefs, fostering a relationship with the divine based on love, trust, and understanding. By finding the balance between originality and connection, empathy and rationality, genuine piety and humility, and reverence without fear, we can live a more balanced and authentic spiritual life.

Questions for Personal Study

1. How does Yeshua encourage individuals to balance originality and avoiding eccentricity?

2. What does it mean to show sympathy without sentimentality according to Yeshua’s teachings?

3. How does Yeshua distinguish between genuine piety and sanctimoniousness?

4. In what ways does Yeshua promote humility in religious devotion?

5. What is the significance of cultivating reverence without fear and superstition in Yeshua’s teachings?

6. How does Yeshua define originality and why does he urge people to strive for it?

7. What are some examples of eccentric behaviors that Yeshua advises against?

8. Can you provide examples of how Yeshua demonstrated sympathy without sentimentality?

9. How does Yeshua encourage individuals to express piety without appearing self-righteous?

10. Could you elaborate on the concept of reverence in Yeshua’s teachings and how it differs from fear-based approaches?

(lp)

“Action achieves strength; moderation eventuates in charm.” (48:7.11)

Dear friends,

The verse above, from the Urantia Book, what the Early Christian Church Restored often calls the Book of Truth, was sent from the daily email from truthbook.com. I highly recommend subscribing to their daily verse emails. As I read it over a few times, I started thinking about the power of balance and how it can transform not only our strength but also our interactions with each other.

Taking action and accomplishing things is a wonderful way to build strength and resilience. It shows that we are determined, driven, and capable of overcoming obstacles. The challenges we face and conquer pave the way for personal growth and a sense of achievement. Every step forward is a testament to our inner strength and the incredible potential that resides within us. However, while strength is important, it is equally vital to approach life’s endeavors in a balanced manner. It is through this balance that we can cultivate qualities that make us not only strong but also friendly and amiable. When we embrace this equilibrium, we bring out the best in ourselves and radiate a warmth that draws others toward us.
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The reading assigned for today, from 144:2.1-6, discusses the nature and purpose of prayer as taught by Yeshua.

Yeshua explains that he taught a simple form of prayer to his followers, represented by the example prayer: “O Father, cleanse us from sin, show us your glory, reveal your love, and let your spirit sanctify our hearts forevermore, Amen!” He taught this prayer so that his disciples would have something to teach the larger group of people who were following him. However, Yeshua did not intend for his followers to use such a fixed and formal prayer as the only means of expressing their own souls in prayer.
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“Of all human knowledge, that which is of greatest value is to know the religious life of Jesus and how he lived it.” (196:1.3)

Among all the knowledge that humans can acquire, the most valuable is an understanding of the religious life of Jesus and how He lived it. We should see His teachings and examples as being of utmost importance in terms of guiding us towards a fulfilling and meaningful life.
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“The Father and I will both work with you, and you shall experience the divine fullness of joy if you will only obey my command to love one another, even as I have loved you.” (180:1.4)

Love was the central teaching of Jesus’ ministry. By loving one another as He loved people, His disciples can experience the fullness of divine joy. This joy is not a fleeting emotion, but a deep sense of fulfillment and contentment that comes from living in alignment with God’s will.
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“All true love is from God, and man receives the divine affection as he himself bestows this love upon his fellows. Love is dynamic. It can never be captured; it is alive, free, thrilling, and always moving. Man can never take the love of the Father and imprison it within his heart. The Father’s love can become real to mortal man only by passing through that man’s personality as he in turn bestows this love upon his fellows.” (117:6.10)

Love originates from God and humans can experience divine love by expressing love towards others. This verse also tells us that love is not static, but rather dynamic and constantly in motion. The love of the Universal Father cannot be captured or contained, but it is alive, free, and thrilling. His love is not a passive emotion, but rather an active force that is constantly in motion, moving and flowing throughout the universe.
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“‘God is love’; therefore his only personal attitude towards the affairs of the universe is always a reaction of divine affection. The Father loves us sufficiently to bestow his life upon us. ‘He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.'” (2:5.1)

God is a Supreme, Divine Entity of love and His attitude towards everything in the universe is one of affection. The Universal Father’s love is unconditional and He bestows His life upon all of us, regardless of whether we are good or evil. This is demonstrated by the fact that the sun rises and the rain falls upon all of us, regardless of our character or behavior. This does not mean that we are not chastized for wrongdoing. We learn from our experiences, both good and bad, as well as our afflictions. (see 47:8.12)
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