Anger |
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What Is The Peace of God? It has been said that there is a kind of peace that is not of this world.
Let us consider each of these questions separately, for each reflects a different step along the way.
How can the peace of God be recognized? God's peace is recognized at first by just one thing; in every way it is totally unlike all previous experiences.
There is a contrast, yes, between this thing and all the past. But strangely, it is not a contrast of true differences. The past just slips away, and in its palce is everlasting quiet. Only that. The contrast first perceived has merely gone. Quiet has reached to cover everything.
How is this quiet found? No one can fail to find it who but seeks out its conditions. God's peace can never come where anger is, for anger must deny that peace exists. Who sees anger as justified in any way or any circumstance proclaims that peace is meaningless, and must believe that it cannot exist. In this condition, peace cannot be found. Therefore, forgiveness is the necessary condition for finding the peace of God. More than this, given forgiveness there must be peace.
Here the initial contrast stands out clear and apparent. Yet when peace is found, the war is meaningless. And it is conflict now that is perceived as nonexistent and unreal.
How is the peace of God retained, once it is found? Returning anger, in whatever form, will drop the heavy curtain once again, and the belief tha tpeace cannot exist will certainly return. War is again accepted as the one reality. Now must you once again lay down your sword, although you do not recognize that you have picked it up again. But you will learn, as you remember even faintly now what happiness was yours without it, that you must have taken it again as your defense. Stop for a moment now and think of this:
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If the Apostles had not felt guilty, they never could have quoted me as saying "I come not to bring peace but a sword." This is clearly the opposite of everything I taught. ACIM Chap 6 Message of the Crucifixion
I am very grateful to the Apostles for their teaching, and fully aware of the extent of their devotion to me. Nevertheless, as you read the teachings of the Apostles, remember that I told them myself that there was much they would understand later, because they were not wholly ready to follow me at the time. (See John 16:12,25) ACIM Chap 6 Message of the Crucifixion
Peter swore he would never
deny me, but he did so three times. He did offer to defend me
with the sword, which I naturally refused, not being at all in
need of
The
message of the crucifixion is perfectly clear: Teach only love,
for that is what you are. The Apostles often misunderstood it,
and for the same reason that makes anyone misunderstand |
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