Unoffendable serenity flowing from deep below the surface

“The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause of offence in him."

Soul: Finally, as you come to know these [godly revelations to children of the light]—though those who know only the human powers of the flesh will never be able to understand them (1 Corinthians 2:14)—you see that all [manifestation of godly serenity] is not just at the surface. It is deep, and in a certain obvious sense, it is effortless. It flows. That is, the things we have been describing are not things the children of light are constantly trying hard to do, gritting their teeth and carrying on. Instead, these are features of life that well up out of a soul that is at home in God.

The passages we have in mind are very well known. Of course Matthew 5–7 heads the list, but properly understood it really goes no further than familiar passages in Paul’s letters, or in those by Peter, James, and John. And there are similar, though on the whole somewhat less penetrating, passages in the Old Testament. We might cite in this connection Romans 12:1-21, 1 Corinthians 13, 2 Corinthians 3:12–7:1, Galatians 5:22–6:10, Ephesians 4:20–6:20, Philippians 2:3-16 and 4:4-9, Colossians 3:1–4:6, 1 Peter 2:1–3:16, 2 Peter 1:2-10, 1 John 4:7-21, and so on. Perhaps Micah 6:8 could serve well as an Old Testament point of reference. Deuteronomy 10:12-21 would also serve. I urge the reader to plan a full day in silent retreat to read and reread these passages meditatively.  pp. 220-221 CALMING SOURCE