6. Body, mind, and soul are one
“As the body, the mind, the soul is one, so is God in the manifestations in power, might and glory in the earth.” 262-42
Meaning
This statement shows a parallel between human nature and God’s nature.
Just as God is One — not divided into separate powers —
So too, we are one being, even though we experience ourselves as body, mind, and soul.
We sometimes treat these as disconnected (body vs. mind, or material vs. spiritual), but the reading emphasizes that they are inseparable aspects of one life.
Spiritual Insight
Body = the physical vessel, how we act and live in the world.
Mind = thoughts, choices, imagination, and will.
Soul = the eternal spirit, our true self connected to God.
The lesson is that we must not live in fragmentation — ignoring the soul, overfeeding the body, or letting the mind wander away from God. Instead, wholeness comes when all three work together under one purpose: to express God’s oneness.
Parallel with God’s Oneness
God manifests in different ways (power, might, glory) but is still One.
We manifest in different dimensions (body, mind, soul) but are still one person.
To live in harmony, our being must reflect God’s oneness: unified, not divided.
Practical Application
Integrate Daily Life: Care for the body (health), train the mind (truth), and nourish the soul (prayer/meditation).
Unify Purpose: Ask, “Are my actions, thoughts, and spirit working together toward God’s will, or are they pulling in different directions?”
Live Wholeness: When body, mind, and soul are aligned, life becomes a witness to God’s presence.
Summary
The teaching reminds us that our being is one, just as God is One. Body, mind, and soul are not competing parts but unified expressions of life. To live this unity is to reflect God’s own oneness in the world.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT AND BODY,MIND, SOUL ARE ONE.
Body, Mind, and Soul Are One (Lesson 262-42)
“As the body, the mind, the soul is one, so is God in the manifestations in power, might and glory in the earth.”
This lesson says that our whole being is one unity — not separate compartments — and must reflect God’s oneness.
The Great Commandment (Jesus’ Words)
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” (Mark 12:30)
Jesus is calling us to love God with the totality of who we are:
Heart/strength → the body and physical life.
Mind → thoughts, will, and imagination.
Soul → the eternal spirit, our deepest identity.
The Parallel
Lesson: Body, mind, and soul are one, reflecting God’s unity.
Jesus: All parts of self must be directed in unified love toward God.
Both point to the truth that loving God is not partial or fragmented. We cannot serve Him with the soul while ignoring the body, or with the mind while neglecting the spirit. God is One, so our devotion must be whole.
Practical Insight
When the body acts in service, the mind thinks truth, and the soul rests in God → we embody the Great Commandment.
Fragmentation (body chasing pleasure, mind chasing worry, soul neglected) produces disorder and disunity.
Unity in self = alignment with God’s oneness.
Summary:
The lesson “Body, mind, and soul are one” and Jesus’ Great Commandment both declare the same truth: life becomes holy when the whole self — physical, mental, spiritual — is united in love for the One God.
7. Joyfulness is evidence of oneness
“There should be joyousness, gladness in the heart, in the speech, in the magnifying of the activities of each individual.” 262-42
Meaning
The reading teaches that joy is the natural fruit of oneness with God. When a person is aligned with the divine will, and when body, mind, and soul are unified, the result is not heaviness or gloom but a deep inner gladness that shines outward.
This joy is not dependent on outward circumstances. It flows from the awareness of God’s presence and from living in harmony with His oneness.
Spiritual Insight
Heart: Inner gladness — peace that anchors the soul.
Speech: Joy expressed in words that uplift, encourage, and give thanks.
Activities: Even daily tasks become radiant when done with awareness of God’s presence.
This reflects Paul’s command:
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
Why Joy Reveals Oneness
Unity with God brings confidence — knowing “The Lord thy God is One” and His life flows through us.
Unity within self (body, mind, soul aligned) eliminates inner conflict and produces peace.
Unity with others (through love and forgiveness) removes bitterness, making room for joy.
Joy, then, is evidence of harmony — proof that God’s oneness is alive in us.
Practical Application
Begin the day with gratitude — it stirs joy in the heart.
Speak words that build up others, showing gladness in speech.
Do daily tasks “as unto the Lord” — turning even ordinary work into an expression of divine joy.
Summary
Joyfulness is the outward evidence of inner oneness with God. When the heart, mind, and soul are unified in Him, life naturally overflows with gladness in speech, activity, and spirit.
JOYFULNESS AS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Joyfulness as a Fruit of Oneness
“There should be joyousness, gladness in the heart, in the speech, in the magnifying of the activities of each individual.”
The lesson says joy is the visible evidence that someone is living in God’s oneness — a state of harmony within self and alignment with God’s will.
Paul’s Teaching
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
Paul identifies joy as one of the first and primary “fruits” of the Spirit — the natural result of God’s presence in a person’s life.
The Connection
Lesson: Oneness with God → produces gladness in heart, speech, and action.
Paul: Walking in the Spirit → produces joy as one of the fruits.
Both: Joy is not manufactured but flows from inner unity with God’s Spirit.
Practical Insight
If joy is absent, it may signal inner division (self vs. spirit, ego vs. God’s will).
Joy is not shallow happiness; it is deep assurance that God’s oneness sustains us.
True joy radiates outward, blessing others through speech and daily activities.
Summary
The lesson and Paul agree: joy is evidence of oneness with God. It is a spiritual fruit that springs from inner harmony with Him, and it overflows in how we speak, act, and relate to others.
8. Selfishness breaks unity
“If the hate, grudge or selfishness… has made for the loss of self’s own respect… how CAN such a soul be one in Him?” 262-42
Meaning
The reading warns that selfishness, hate, and grudges destroy the soul’s harmony — both within itself and with God.
When we hold bitterness or act in selfish ways, we actually lose respect for ourselves, because deep down the soul knows it is not reflecting God’s nature.
This inner division blocks the soul from true unity with God. Oneness cannot exist where resentment and selfishness rule.
Spiritual Insight
Oneness with God requires love, forgiveness, and openness.
Selfishness isolates, creating separation: between self and others, and between self and God.
The lesson emphasizes that the Lord thy God is One — and unity with Him is impossible when we cling to division in our hearts.
This echoes John’s teaching:
“He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20)
Why Selfishness Breaks Unity
With God → God is love and oneness; selfishness pulls away from His nature.
With Self → grudges create inner conflict and destroy self-respect.
With Others → selfishness breaks relationships, making it impossible to live the Great Commandment (love God and neighbor).
Practical Application
Regularly examine your heart: Am I holding grudges? Am I acting from selfish motives?
Practice forgiveness as a daily discipline — not for others only, but for your own soul’s peace.
Replace selfish impulses with acts of service, which restore unity and joy.
Summary
Selfishness, hate, and grudges are barriers to unity. They fracture the soul’s integrity and make oneness with God impossible. True unity requires love, forgiveness, and surrender of self-interest.
SELFISHNESS AND FORGIVENESS
Lesson (262-42)
“If the hate, grudge or selfishness… has made for the loss of self’s own respect… how CAN such a soul be one in Him?”
The lesson makes it clear: selfishness and grudges break unity — they destroy oneness with God, with others, and even with self.
Jesus’ Teaching on Forgiveness
The Lord’s Prayer
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
Jesus teaches that our forgiveness from God is linked to our willingness to forgive others. Holding grudges blocks unity with God.
Follow-up Warning
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15)
Jesus directly ties forgiveness to oneness with the Father. Unforgiveness = broken relationship with God.
The Seventy Times Seven Principle
“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22)
Jesus shows forgiveness must be ongoing and unlimited, because unity depends on continually releasing grudges.
The Connection
Lesson: Hate, grudges, and selfishness destroy self-respect and unity with God.
Jesus: Forgiveness is essential to walk with God — without it, we cut ourselves off from Him.
Both: Unity with God requires releasing selfishness and living in forgiveness.
Practical Reflection
Every time we forgive, we restore unity — with God, with others, and within ourselves.
Refusing to forgive locks us in separation and robs us of joy.
Forgiveness is not weakness, but the active power of God’s love flowing through us.
Summary
The lesson and Jesus’ teaching agree: selfishness and grudges break unity, while forgiveness restores it. Living in forgiveness is the key to remaining one with God and manifesting His oneness in the world.
9. The Kingdom is within
“Be active; up and doing, with a heart that is singing… the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It IS within!” 262-42
Meaning
The reading reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not far away, nor only a future promise — it is a present reality within us.
It is not limited to a place, ritual, or outer sign.
It is the life of God already planted in the soul, waiting to be expressed.
This echoes Jesus’ words:
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation… for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20–21)
Spiritual Insight
It is at hand → The Kingdom is available now, in the present moment.
It is within → God’s Spirit dwells in each soul, as the seed of divine life.
It must be lived → “Be active; up and doing” — the Kingdom becomes visible through joy, service, and daily obedience.
So, the Kingdom is not only an inward awareness but an outward manifestation of God’s rule through us.
Practical Application
Begin with the Heart: Cultivate joy and gratitude — “a heart that is singing.”
Live Actively: Don’t wait for a distant heaven; express God’s love in daily acts of service, kindness, and truth.
Look Within: In moments of stress or despair, turn inward to God’s Spirit rather than seeking only external fixes.
Summary
The lesson declares that the Kingdom is not only future, but present; not only outward, but inward. When we awaken to God’s oneness within, and live it out with joy and activity, we realize that “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It IS within!”
THE KINGDOM WITHIN AND THY KINGDOM COME
The Lesson: The Kingdom Is Within
“Be active; up and doing, with a heart that is singing… the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It IS within!” (262-42)
This emphasizes that the Kingdom of Heaven is not distant but already present in the soul, waiting to be expressed in daily living.
The Lord’s Prayer
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
Here, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom is not just something we wait for in the future, but something we ask to be realized here and now — “in earth” as in heaven.
The Connection
Inner Kingdom (Within): God’s Spirit is already alive in us. The Kingdom begins when we allow His rule in our heart and mind.
Outer Kingdom (On Earth): When His will is lived out in our actions, relationships, and communities, the inward Kingdom becomes visible outwardly.
Unity of Both:
Lesson → “It IS within!” (inner seed of the Kingdom).
Prayer → “Thy will be done… in earth” (the seed grows outward into action).
Practical Insight
Each time we choose love over hate, peace over strife, or truth over deceit, we are letting God’s Kingdom come on earth.
Living with “a heart that is singing” (joyful obedience) is how the inner Kingdom shows itself outwardly.
The Kingdom is not something to wait for passively — it is something to cooperate with God in building, starting from within.
Summary
The lesson and the Lord’s Prayer are one voice: the Kingdom is within as God’s Spirit, and it becomes real on earth as we live in alignment with His will.
10. Sharing in Christ’s oneness
“As He gave, ‘I and the Father are One, and ye in me, I in the Father—’” 262-42
Meaning
This teaching emphasizes that the oneness Jesus had with the Father is not His alone — it is something we are invited to share in.
Jesus declares: “I and the Father are One” (John 10:30).
But He also extends that unity to His followers: “Ye in me, I in the Father.” (John 17:21–23).
The lesson shows that the spiritual life is not about separation, but about entering into the same relationship of oneness that Christ lived.
Spiritual Insight
Christ’s Oneness with the Father = perfect alignment of will, love, and purpose.
Our Oneness with Christ = when we align our will, love, and purpose with His.
The Result = we share in the divine life: God in Christ, Christ in us, and us in God.
This is not theory — it is a lived experience of unity, revealed in daily choices, love for others, and faithfulness to God’s will.
Biblical Echoes
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” (John 17:21)
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
All these passages show the same truth: the oneness of Christ with God is meant to become our oneness too.
Practical Application
Daily Union: Begin each day remembering, “Christ lives in me — I live in Him.”
Purpose: Align choices with God’s will, as Christ did.
Love: Extend unity by loving others, for oneness with Christ cannot exist without oneness with neighbor.
Summary
Sharing in Christ’s oneness means entering into the same unity He has with the Father. It is the fulfillment of the lesson “The Lord thy God is One” — God in Christ, Christ in us, and us in God, living as one.
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