by Rev. Crystal Muldrow
There is the birth of Jesus, then the death and then the resurrection…Isn’t that it? As I grew spiritually and learned more about the Bible, it became clear that Jesus’ resurrection is only the end of a chapter. Yet, it’s not the end of any of the gospels. The Gospels end similarly. Here is Matthew 16:17-20:
17 When the disciples saw Jesus there, many of them fell down and worshiped, as Mary and the other Mary had done. But a few hung back. They were not sure (and who can blame them?).
18 Jesus came forward and addressed His beloved disciples.
The disciples don’t know what to think or how to act. Nothing like this has ever happened before.
Jesus: I am here speaking with all the authority of God, who has commanded Me to give you this commission:
19 Go out and make disciples in all the nations. Ceremonially wash them through baptism in the name of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
20 Then disciple them. Form them in the practices and postures that I have taught you, and show them how to follow the commands I have laid down for you. And I will be with you, day after day, to the end of the age.
The story continues as we are called to spiritually grow. In the passage above, our spiritual truth, Jesus; also known as the I AM, calls us forth to move from being his disciples, his students to becoming his apostles; those who are sent forth to carry Jesus’ teachings to the world.
Evangelists use this as the marching orders to proselytize. In the “Revealing Word,” Charles Fillmore states, “[Proselytizing] is not in accord with divine law. The Spirit of truth within is man’s one and only guide.” The scripture above then becomes our call to action. We are to continue to purify our lower states of consciousness with the spiritual Truths that our higher consciousness knows. The teachings of Jesus continue to evolve within us. We are told to evolve to our Christ natures as Jesus did and taught us how to do. It is as the Star Wars character Yoda said, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” There are many people who do not “do” the work of spiritual evolution. Many convince themselves that they will try to evolve. Yet trying becomes the same as not doing. What we are instructed to do is move forward in our spiritual development. We are all her to actualize our Spiritual natures. As Unity’s fifth principles states, “knowledge of spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took the blossom.” ~Anais Nin
“Luminous beings are we…not this crude matter” ~Yoda