464 Be Equally Yoked, A Guided Christian Meditation on James 2:6-10 with the Recenter With Christ app

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain. My purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina:

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Bible verses for Meditation:

2 Corinthians 6 NIV 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

NRSVA 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13 In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also. 14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness?

Meditation:

A yoke is the cross bar that is used between two beasts of burden. If a person wants to connect two animals to carry a weight they put the yoke across their shoulders and then the burden is connected to the yoke. If the animals are going in two different directions then they will not move the yoke forward and do any meaningful work. Paul makes a comparison between faith and a yoke. For those who accept Christ as their Savior and Lord should be attempting to move in the direction Christ commands. It is Christ that equally yokes us. He guides the balance of the burden

We should be yoked with those headed in the same direction as we are. This is not to say that we should treat others unkindly. This is not to say that those who have not yet received the truth of Christ should be avoided. The Command Christ recaptured in the second great commandment says we should love one another with all our hearts. This is what leads to a desire to share God's word with others.

Our goal then is to build fellowship with people who can help us craft a better future. It is hard to move to a better future while denying the existence of God or the truth of the Gospel. During the last few years so many people have become detached from meaningful fellowship. Many people have become unyoked with anyone or settled for relationships that are not moving in the direction they want to go. May God inspire and direct our hearts to find more fellowship with others headed in the same direction as where we want to go spiritually. May we focus on how to build more meaningful fellowship in our relationships.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Updates:

Final Question: How can you live consistent with the cleansing power God offers you?

This week I performed a funeral for a family from Africa. The amount of family that was physically present was not that large but there were many friends who were just as close as family in some ways and their presence and comfort was amazing.

Final Thought:

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