We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
-Teilhard de Chardin-
A Spiritual Journey
Kadesh: Holiness
The first step in our spiritual growth is to desire to live a holy life. Holiness has two basic aspects:
- Moving away from what is not holy in your life while moving toward those things which are disclosed as holy to you.
In the Holy Scripture [Exodus 6], God declares before Moses that it is He who will redeem His people from sin and bondage. His words state, “I will take you out,” and “I will rescue you.” Both promises refer to moving His people away from bondage.
Next, God proclaimed that “I will redeem you” and that “I will take you to Myself.” In both of these promises, God refers to moving His people toward Himself.
Holiness requires one to move away from everything that limits your life in the presence of God. Only then can one start moving toward the Creator based on His moral ethics and guidelines. This first step requires on-going separating you from negative and moving toward a God-consciousness in all things.
Urchatz: Washing
Step two toward spiritual growth is remaining pure in heart by keeping one’s hands clean! Our hands carry out our intentions and motives that are hidden within our hearts. There is no forward movement in one’s journey until one’s “hands” are clean.
King David pleaded his case in this manner, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [Psalms 51:1-2]
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Karpas: Simplicity
Our third step toward spiritual growth is learning how to seek after and honor life’s simple things that within the mighty hands of God, may become elevated into a huge blessing. Our Creator dislikes those who are proud and boastful, yet He delights those who are humbled.
The American editor and lecturer William G. Jordan wrote, “Life grows wondrously beautiful when we look at is as simple when we can brush aside trivial cares, sorrows, worries, and failures….Simplicity is a mental soil where selfishness, deceit, treachery, and low ambition cannot grow.”
Yachatz: Being Broken
One’s spiritual growth is further enhanced by one’s willingness to continue to be broken. Psalms 34:18 says, “God is close to those who are broken hearted, He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.”
There is an essential difference between those who are broken hearted and those who are despaired. The one in despair thinks that they are no good and they have a very negative perspective of the world and self. The spirit of a heartbroken soul willfully yearns for continued help from the Creator above, while yearning for all that God has for them at all cost.
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But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter,
and all we are the works of Your Hand.
Isaiah 64:8
Maggid: Testimony
The last step toward spiritual growth is in essence, an on-going telling of your life journey through the lens of God’s love and faithfulness. Our trials and tribulations are our testimonies that will become our legacies and testament that we are no longer victims, nor survivors yet overcomers!
Our testimony is the world’s proof that it is God who has directed their life through His will and providence. Every part of this life’s journey is designed toward each soul learning to develop a Godly worldview and consciousness in an effort toward ultimate freedom in this human experience called Life!
In closing, God is and will forever be our God who brought each soul out of spiritual darkness and death with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Not one of us in our sinful state could never have the ability to free ourselves from our negative eternal condition. Ultimate soul redemption is a goodwill free gift from our Heavenly Father as an on-going expression of His divine providence within a very fallen world that has already been judged.
Grace and Peace
Alonzo E. Thornton, D. Min.
In partnership with the following: http://www.thesourceoftruelife.com/
and: http://www.lilliadepass.com/