Summary of LIVING
A COLORFUL LIFE
Sunday Lesson on November 25, 2007 * Reverend
Bible Verses: Gen. 49: 22 - 26; Deut. 33: 13 - 16.
Today I am going to speak about three colorful
characters from the Bible and some things we can learn from them about living
life. I believe that God created a
glorious, full-color world with manifold blessings, if we but have eyes to see.
1.
Joseph (from the Old Testament):
Joseph was a colorful character.
Charles Fillmore gives us this metaphysical interpretation of Joseph:
“Joseph ... was clothed with a coat of many colors; he was a dreamer and
interpreter of dreams... Among the primal faculties of the mind Joseph
represents imagination ... Imagination is a necessary faculty and is
powerful and productive, yet it is belittled and often derided ... by the other
faculties of the mind while they are spiritually unawakened... Joseph as the
imaging, increasing power of the mind refers to the imagination” (Metaphysical
Bible Dictionary, Pp. 366 & 367). Joseph got into trouble when he did
not live from his higher self. But when he connected with his higher self and
used his power of imagination, he did great things for himself and those around
him. 2. Jesus: Jesus is sometimes called the Prince of Peace and
sometimes the Man of Sorrows, but can you also see how colorful He was? At his birth there were colorful
celebrations, with bright lights and great gifts. He traveled a lot for a man from a poor
family. He lived in Egypt. Some claim
that He lived in India! He loved to go
to social gatherings. His first recorded
miracle was turning water into wine. Scholars say that he went to so many
parties that it caused economic hardship on his family because they were
expected to reciprocate. He loved to
climb mountains and go sailing. He had
friends from all walks of life, including sinners, lepers, adulterers and tax
collectors. He loved spiritual things
and physical things. He loved having his
feet massaged with expensive oil. He
affirmed Mary at a party at the house of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy working in the kitchen. Mary was sitting at His feet and Martha got a
little miffed. Jesus told Martha that it
is just fine to have a good time. He
wore a valuable, seamless robe. His
message was that the Kingdom of Heaven is
right now, in this life, and this Kingdom is a colorful one! 3.
Lydia: Lydia is one of the great women of the Bible.
She was a seller of purple, the color of royalty. She must have
hob-nobbed with the rich and famous. She
was colorful and spiritual. The name Lydia
literally means “travail; contention; strife; conception; pregnancy;
childbirth; offspring”. Mr Fillmore
writes: “ [Lydia stands for] The travail
that the soul undergoes in conceiving and giving birth to spiritual ideals. Spiritual understanding is developed in the
feminine realm of the soul” ( MBD, P. 409). How interesting to note that spiritual
understanding is developed in the feminine part of the soul!
The
imagination is one of the greatest powers that God has given us. Sometimes
we struggle to manifest what we imagine, but always great innovation comes through our
imagination. We must picture the
idea. Then we develop the plan. Then we get busy manifesting our dream. This is how to enjoy a colorful life.
Summary of LIVING
A COLORFUL LIFE
Sunday Lesson on November 25, 2007 * Reverend
Bible Verses: Gen. 49: 22 - 26; Deut. 33: 13 - 16.
Today I am going to speak about three colorful
characters from the Bible and some things we can learn from them about living
life. I believe that God created a
glorious, full-color world with manifold blessings, if we but have eyes to see.
1.
Joseph (from the Old Testament):
Joseph was a colorful character.
Charles Fillmore gives us this metaphysical interpretation of Joseph:
“Joseph ... was clothed with a coat of many colors; he was a dreamer and
interpreter of dreams... Among the primal faculties of the mind Joseph
represents imagination ... Imagination is a necessary faculty and is
powerful and productive, yet it is belittled and often derided ... by the other
faculties of the mind while they are spiritually unawakened... Joseph as the
imaging, increasing power of the mind refers to the imagination” (Metaphysical
Bible Dictionary, Pp. 366 & 367). Joseph got into trouble when he did
not live from his higher self. But when he connected with his higher self and
used his power of imagination, he did great things for himself and those around
him. 2. Jesus: Jesus is sometimes called the Prince of Peace and
sometimes the Man of Sorrows, but can you also see how colorful He was? At his birth there were colorful
celebrations, with bright lights and great gifts. He traveled a lot for a man from a poor
family. He lived in Egypt. Some claim
that He lived in India! He loved to go
to social gatherings. His first recorded
miracle was turning water into wine. Scholars say that he went to so many
parties that it caused economic hardship on his family because they were
expected to reciprocate. He loved to
climb mountains and go sailing. He had
friends from all walks of life, including sinners, lepers, adulterers and tax
collectors. He loved spiritual things
and physical things. He loved having his
feet massaged with expensive oil. He
affirmed Mary at a party at the house of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy working in the kitchen. Mary was sitting at His feet and Martha got a
little miffed. Jesus told Martha that it
is just fine to have a good time. He
wore a valuable, seamless robe. His
message was that the Kingdom of Heaven is
right now, in this life, and this Kingdom is a colorful one! 3.
Lydia: Lydia is one of the great women of the Bible.
She was a seller of purple, the color of royalty. She must have hob-nobbed with the rich and
famous. She was colorful and
spiritual. The name Lydia
literally means “travail; contention; strife; conception; pregnancy;
childbirth; offspring”. Mr Fillmore
writes: “ [Lydia stands for] The travail
that the soul undergoes in conceiving and giving birth to spiritual
ideals. Spiritual understanding is
developed in the feminine realm of the soul” ( MBD, P. 409). How interesting to note that spiritual
understanding is developed in the feminine part of the soul!
The
imagination is one of the greatest powers that God has given us. Sometimes
we struggle to manifest what we imagine, but always great innovation comes through our
imagination. We must picture the
idea. Then we develop the plan. Then we get busy manifesting our dream. This is how to enjoy a colorful life.