Embrace Spiritual Fulfillment

Based on Chapter 16 of Dawn of Devotion

To cultivate a deep, spiritually fulfilling life, it is essential to move beyond self-imposed religious structures to embrace the Bible’s core philosophy. This is not just about following religious policies but about seeking a genuine connection with the Bible, as it says in Galatians 2:19, "Live unto God." This transformative path challenges us to align our understanding with the will at the core of the scriptures, allowing its righteousness to permeate our devotional life.

The Bible continually reminds us that true devotion begins with living "according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 4:6). This means shifting the focus from mere external religious acts to an internal transformation. Our conversation must be centered on the meaning of the Bible’s righteousness, upholding its counsel as our guide. Psalm 119:116 states, "Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live." By immersing our conversation’s conscience in Scripture, we allow the Bible’s intention to dwell within us, transforming our spirit or mind and leading us to a more fulfilling personal and devotional life.

Understanding the Bible’s philosophy requires us to engage deeply with its “Word.” Our faith’s mind, guided by this Spirit, serves as the instrument for discerning its wisdom. Romans 7:25 affirms, "With the mind I myself serve the law of God." Our mental and spiritual efforts must be aligned with the law of the Bible’s Spirit, where true understanding is manifested. This is the Bible's deeper call: to engage our mind, allowing it to serve and understand its philosophy from a place of love and purpose.

True spiritual wisdom comes from transcending the religious world’s dogmas and misconceptions. The Bible highlights that our belief must leave behind self-centered religious notions to grasp the broader vision of its intended creation. As Romans 7:18 explains, without this wisdom, our devotional experience is bound to an empty practice, disconnected from the true essence of mindful living. The Bible’s call is to experiment with faith, to investigate the Bible’s wisdom, and apply them to our lives through conscious effort.

The Bible’s philosophy centers on the Bible’s righteousness. This righteousness, however, is not limited to ritual or tradition; it must be realized through personal experience and experimentation. The scriptures guide us to pursue the Bible’s commandment with diligence, as only through active faith can we understand and live out the intended experience.

The Bible offers a profound educational journey for our belief’s mind, where wisdom and knowledge of the Bible’s intention lead to its liberation, even like as Proverbs 11:9 asserts, "Through knowledge shall the just be delivered." The pursuit of this wisdom requires us to consistently review and reflect on the Bible’s words, freeing us from false teachings and leading us to fact. This journey involves death to the conversation’s natural constitution, as Romans 6:10 says, so that our understanding may live unto the living God.

The process of sanctification—our belief and its intellect purified—occurs as we engage in the living God’s educational system. This journey leads to the transformation of the mind, allowing us to partake in right wisdom and leaving behind the superficial elements of the religious world. As Colossians 1:13 suggests, our deliverance from earthly concerns happens as we move toward our faith’s higher purposes.

Our faith’s ultimate calling is for us to align it with the Bible’s philosophical intention. The Bible’s philosophy, rooted in a benevolent wisdom, invites us to move beyond mere religious tradition and into a deeper, more meaningful engagement with our understanding. This path is not easy, but it is essential for spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Through this understanding, we move beyond the confines of religious conventions and embrace a higher learning, one that is based upon purpose and guided by wisdom. The Bible’s word’s are a living guide, calling us to live "according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 4:6), to honor that experience in truth, and to experience the transformative power of those words.

Born For A Purpose: Define Your Legacy

We are all born with a unique purpose, a reason that we often can’t see until we dare to take the risks necessary to discover it. Life may seem as though it's laid out on a predetermined path, with every twist and turn scripted in advance. But at some point, each of us will face a pivotal moment—a defining trial that shapes our legacy. How we navigate these moments, no matter how daunting or uncomfortable, is entirely up to us.

The story of the Hebrew midwives in ancient Egypt beautifully illustrates this point. The narrative goes:

"The king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives...and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive...Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses." — Exodus 1:15-21

Who would have thought that these humble midwives, often overlooked in their day, would have their courage remembered for generations? Charged with a harrowing command to kill every male newborn of the Hebrew women, they instead chose to follow their faith and defy the king’s orders, risking their lives and livelihoods in the process. Their decision to honor their spiritual convictions over the demands of earthly power not only solidified their legacy, but also ensured their rewarded to have families of their own.

These midwives had one primary role: to assist in the birth of others. But their legacy became so much more than mere attendants to new life; it became a testament to the power of conscience and the courage to act against injustice. Their actions remind us that our reality isn’t confined to what we see or the roles we’re given. We are called to do more than merely observe life—we are called to shape how life is both understood and expressed in the world.

We are not given the gift of our belief to remain passive onlookers, watching others take the stage in life’s grand drama. Instead, we have a responsibility to nurture our inner selves, to grow and refine our understanding, and to share a piece of our self this with others. Each of us carries a unique essence, a personal fragrance that resonates with others who share a similar spirit. It is our duty to cultivate this essence, not to hoard it, but to let it blossom and spread as a blessing to the world.

Though the world may be stubborn and deeply entrenched in its ways, our purpose might not be to change it outright but to ignite a spark—one that lights the way for others to reconsider their own paths. We cannot contribute meaningfully to the world if we simply uphold traditions or systems that we know are flawed. True impact comes from courageously stepping into our knowledge, growing it, and letting it guide us to new, uncharted territories.

So, the question we must ask ourselves is this: Will we continue to play the supporting role, assisting in the birth of others’ dreams, or will we muster the courage to nurture our own? Will we dare to bring forth a legacy that stands in defiance of the conventional and speaks to a higher truth?

Looking to the example of the Hebrew midwives, we should understand that the greatest reward awaits those who are bold enough to align their actions with acquired wisdom. Their legacy teaches us that true courage is not just about defying earthly authority but about staying true to the philosophical convictions that guide our conscience. For those who dare to act in harmony with this higher calling, the path may not be easy, but the reward—a life of meaningful impact and enduring legacy—makes every risk worthwhile.

Ultimately, we are all called to do more than simply exist. We are here to challenge, to question, to grow, and to uplift. We are here to leave a mark, not just in the stories of others, but in the very fabric of our shared human experience.

The Unyielding Nature of Facts

Facts don't care about feelings. This simple yet profound statement reminds us of the unyielding nature of truth.

Facts remain steadfast, indifferent to our emotions or personal beliefs. It's astonishing how often facts stir emotions rather than calm them. One might assume that facts should bring clarity, reassurance, or even liberation. However, the reality is that the more a fact confronts us, the more it can disturb our emotions. This disturbance is often unsettling, especially when we consider that "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

When we allow facts to take their rightful place in our mind, they have the potential to humble us. A mind that rejects a clear fact often reveals a heart stubbornly clinging to an unverified belief. This obstinacy is the hallmark of an "evil" or "wicked" mind, as reflected in the scripture: "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23).

To examine our own tendencies toward personal fault or error, we must consider how we handle facts. There is a stark difference between religious fiction and devotional fact. Our ability—or inability—to distinguish between these can reveal much about our state of being. The downfall of a religious confidence lies in its dependence on emotion to give it strength, as Paul writes, "They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2). We must choose between a knowledgeable devotional experience and an emotional religious fever.

Often, discussions about faith and belief lead to heated arguments, harsh words, and hurt feelings. This usually happens because people speak from a place of public opinion rather than with personal wisdom from rigorous research. Emotions, rather than facts, often drive our desire to learn, leading to a shallow understanding shaped more by personality than by reality. As a result, we form a strong emotional attachment to our beliefs, which can be shattered when confronted with facts.

Facts exist independently of belief or disbelief. They are not designed to comfort; they simply are. Unlike us, facts do not concern themselves with the knowledge available in the world; they exist beyond and above the limitations of human understanding, including the theological assumptions of the religious world. The author of the book of John cautions us about this, noting that the teachings of the religious world are distinct from the character within the scriptures: "They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them" (1 John 4:5).

Understanding why emotional disturbance occurs when we encounter facts requires a recognition of this distinction. Facts, unbound by the theological frameworks of the religious world, can feel alien and challenging to our deeply held beliefs. This challenge can reveal the lack of true knowledge supporting our beliefs, underscoring the truth of Proverbs: "Fools die for lack of wisdom" (Proverbs 10:21), and "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). True belief is both knowledgeable and intelligent; without a living, refreshing knowledge of what we actually believe, we risk falling into the trap of mental and spiritual lethargy and deception.

The conventional approach often involves placing faith in religious authorities without independently verifying the knowledge they present. The Bible warns against this blind trust, highlighting the pitfalls of relying on the religious world's wisdom above acquired insight: "He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Today, the message—"I know him, and keep his saying" (John 8:55)—still challenges us to "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

We should embrace the fact that facts do not care about our identity, thoughts, or level of understanding. Their sole purpose is to humble us, pushing us to make sense of our limitations and encouraging us to delve deeper into the Bible for understanding. For too long, we have viewed the Bible through a distorted lens, trusting in theories that do not foster our mental and devotional growth. It's time to heed the call: "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read" (Isaiah 34:16).

By engaging with facts and seeking knowledge directly from the Bible, we can cultivate a faith that is not only emotionally resonant but also intellectually robust, rooted in reality rather than mere tradition.