The Conflict Between Duty and Emotions
Greetings and good morning brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This morning we will ponder our lives as we seek to understand the conflict between duty and emotions and its resolution.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Conflict Between Duty and Emotions
“Then said he unto them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, and even unto death; tarry you here with me, and watch with me. And he went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed, saying, O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: Nevertheless not as I will but as you will.” Matthew, Chapter 26, Verse 39.
Caught in the steel vice between duty and emotions, walking the floor all night long, slowly losing sight of the real thing. Over and over in his mind, he turns the struggle like a spinning top. When asked what's on his mind, he simply replies, "couple of things." Jesus went through such a struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane and emerged victorious.
Brothers and sisters, in today’s broadcast we examine the conflict between duty and emotions, and show how we resolve these conflicts. In the course of our journey through life, we invariably run into disagreeable responsibilities. We are eventually confronted with a duty that causes a strong negative emotional response in our minds and souls, for we would rather do something other than what we are confronted with and this causes the conflict between duty and emotions, that state that robs us of peace of mind.
Having a negative emotional reaction to our duty effectively handicaps us in the use of the power we need to satisfactorily complete that duty. A sense of enthusiasm and sense of purpose are essential, and are the essence of power. But unless our sense of enthusiasm and our purpose reach supreme levels, we become filled with conflict. It is only when our purpose and our enthusiasm reach supreme levels that we experience harmony between duty and emotions. When our purpose reach supreme levels our emotions follow, and the conflict evaporates. The experiences of life are filled with relative values, and it is this failure to recognize this truth that leads to so much anguish.
While the development of goals by us is unavoidable, and is in fact desirable, the choice of goals is a reflection of experience and maturity. From a practical point of view, this means that as we experience and mature, some goals will be found to be unrealistic, while others may prove to be inappropriate. Still other goals may grow out of recognized responsibility. The endowment of transient goals with supreme emotions can only result in disappointment, pain, and sorrow, especially when those same goals disappear, and the emotions associated with them remain and turn negative.
The only solution to such a problem is to dedicate our selves to the supreme duty, the doing of the Father’s will. Dedication to doing the Father’s will inherently harmonizes duty and emotions, and provides the supreme satisfaction. As we pursue the Father’s will, the supreme duty, the lesser duties will be contained in the greater duty, and so will the lesser emotions be swallowed up in the greater emotion of supreme satisfaction. Some of these duties may be enjoyable while some of them will not. But be they enjoyable or not, it matters not, for they are all transient, and must be completed successfully before we can proceed to the next higher duty. But since we are striving to reach the supreme duty, the perfect execution of the Father’s will, there can be no emotional conflict over what we are doing, for one duty is just as good as another in that they all serve as stepping stones to higher and higher duties, even to the highest duty, the doing of the Father’s will.
The Father is the source of all moral duties, and since he is the source of these moral obligations, he provides the moral strength, and spiritual power to carry them out. As Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest for your souls.” In him, duty and emotions are absolutely unified. No conflict exists or can exists. Therefore the pursuit of the Father’s will through Jesus, resolves the conflict.
This concludes today's message on understanding and resolving the conflict between duty and emotions. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Your Kingdom Come; Your Will Be Done!
Inspirational Messages of Light
By Dr. James Perry
The Conflict Between Duty and Emotions
