But Deliver Us from Evil
[picture entitled "Deliverance II" borrowed from the site: reaperslair.de]
2 Timothy 4:
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Joel 2:
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Psalm 32:
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Dear Friends: The action verb is "deliverance" and the object is "evil." It seems quite apparent what this means, but necessitates an enquiring mind rather than a judgmental mind in order to understand all the implications. We often think that evil is what others do to us rather than what we do to ourselves and so we assign it to another and blame that "other," for actions which are our own. We can only do this if we believe there is another to blame. Contained within this is the temptation to believe that we are separate and so can assign those things we deem negative to another. But having given up separation doctrine, we fully realize that no one or no other thing is doing anything to us. Unity, which is the truth about who we are leads us to examine ourselves and to reject concepts which lead us to believe anything is done unto us. When we do this, there is no other choice but to admit that we are responsible for all things which occur in our lives, even those things which we do not understand. The way out, is to be wise, observe what is happening, and understand why it is so. The first step of resolution is to accept whatever it is that is happening to us, then, to judge it not nor condemn the experience, and finally, to bless whatever it is that is happening and then send the experience on its way. This is the meaning of deliverance. We must deliver ourselves from our own creations.
This is the most difficult part to accept in life, for it is always easier to blame others than ourselves. In the end, we find, that even blaming ourselves, is not worthy of us. For blame entails judgment of ourselves, condemnation follows, and we loose context. In such times of trial, it is very difficult to see that it is we, ourselves, who are at cause. How is it, that I, bring upon myself, the conditions I am experiencing? This is the question we must ask ourselves if we are to understand why. Look back on all your doings. Think carefully about your thoughts, words and deeds and remember what seeds you have planted. Every seed you plant, germinates and produces the results of its intentions.
Do unto others as you would have done unto you is the key. If you understand that there is no other except yourself, then you can understand that what you do to others you do to yourself. For in the Unity of the One, there is only One OF Us. Having planted the seed intended for another, we plant it for ourselves. And therein contains the truth of where our least wanted experiences exist. Every seed we plant in life, we plant for ourselves. A true master always looks within the self to find all causes apparently external to the self. And if we look deeply enough within ourselves, we find the root cause. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "if thine eye offend thee, then pluck it out." Find within you, the root cause of all your apparent experiences, and remove from yourself those things which are causing you to experience in life, things which you least desire for yourself.
The Lord, who is US, One in Unity, creates all things and so it US who must be our own deliverance that we beseach. This by far, is the hardest and most ardently difficult truth to accept about who and what we are. The good news is, we have the control and we can change the way the ship is steered. Rather than disempowerment, the truth of Oneness empowers us, puts us in the drivers seat, and says to us: we can change the situation by thinking differently, by planting new seeds which make the difference. By changing what we think, say and do...knowing with full purpose and awareness it is WE who are at cause for ALL OF IT, the outcome is made manifest differently.
Thus, we no longer see God as being capricious and uncaring, unwilling to rectify all the wrongs we think we experience in our lives. Rather, we take charge of our own condition, our own decisions and our own doings and see the seed of all it in ourselves. If we wish to change our experience, it is ourselves that we must look to to do the deliverance. God is no longer "blamed" because we now understand the real source for all of our experiences, good or bad.
And lead us not into temptation (the temptation to plant the seeds of our future regretful experiences), but deliver us from evil (accept responsibility for our every thought, word and deed and change ourselves so that our present seed planted is good).
Matthew 13:
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
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