ACIM Workbook Lesson 101 ~ April 11
http://courseinmiracles.com/acourseinmiracles/workbook/lesson101.htm
http://www.acimradio.net/urwork/
" Lesson 101
"God's will for me is perfect happiness."
Today we will continue with the theme
of happiness. This is a key idea
in understanding what salvation means.
You still believe it asks for suffering
as penance for your "sins." This is not so.
Yet you must think it so while you believe
that sin is real, and that God's Son can sin.
If sin is real then punishment is just,
and cannot be escaped. Salvation thus
cannot be purchased but through suffering.
If sin is real then happiness must be
illusion, for they cannot both be true.
The sinful warrant only death and pain,
and it is this they ask for, for they know
it waits for them and it will seek them out
and find them somewhere, sometime, in some form
which evens the account they owe to God.
They would escape Him in their fear. And yet
He will pursue, and they can not escape.|
If sin is real salvation must be pain.
Pain is the cost of sin, and suffering
can never be escaped if sin is real.
Salvation must be feared, for it will kill,
but slowly, taking everything away
before it grants the welcome boon of death.
To victims who are little more than bones
before salvation is appeased. Its wrath
is boundless, merciless, but wholly just.|
Who would seek out such savage punishment?
Who would not flee salvation, and attempt
in every way he can to drown the Voice
Which offers it to him? Why would he try
to listen, and accept Its offering?
If sin is real Its offering is death,
and meted out in cruel form to match
the vicious wishes in which sin is born.
If sin is real salvation has become
your bitter enemy, the curse of God
upon you who have crucified His Son.|
You need the practice periods today.
The exercises teach sin is not real,
and all that you believe must come from sin
will never happen, for it has no cause.
Accept atonement with an open mind
which cherishes no lingering belief
that you have made a devil of God's Son.
There is no sin. We practice with this thought
as often as we can today, because
it is the basis for today's idea.|
God's Will for you is perfect happiness
because there is no sin, and suffering
is causeless. Joy is just, and pain is but
the sign you have misunderstood yourself.
Fear not the Will of God. But turn to It
in confidence that It will set you free
from all the consequences sin has wrought
in feverish imagination. Say:
"God's Will for me is perfect happiness.
There is no sin; it has no consequence."
So should you start your practice periods,
and then attempt again to find the joy
these thoughts will introduce into your mind.|
Give these five minutes gladly, to remove
the heavy load you laid upon yourself
with the insane belief that sin is real.
Today escape from madness. You are set
on freedom's road, and now today's idea
brings wings to speed you on, and hope to go
still faster to the waiting goal of peace.
There is no sin. Remember this today,
and tell yourself as often as you can:
"God's Will for me is perfect happiness.
This is the truth because there is no sin." "
~ Urtext of ACIM
------------------------------------------
[ Hear Today's Lesson in Iambic Pentameter ]
http://www.acimradio.net/wkbk/101_UrWork_GodsWillForMeIsPerfectHappiness.wma
or via http://www.acimradio.net/urwork/
|
