Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima
paralleling ASFG I lesson on “WHAT IS MY IDEAL?” section, Attaining the Ideal
BIBLE READING: II Peter, 1st Chapter & Genesis, 33rd through 50th Chapters
(pages 28 and 29)
Affirmation
“The Christ within me is my Ideal.
I see Him in others, I serve Him in love,
I wait with patience, and I trust God’s perfect timing.”
This affirmation anchors the truth that the Ideal is not self-made but found in Christ, and that our role is to serve, to see the divine spark in others, and to persevere in faith as Joseph did.
Attaining the Ideal: A Spiritual and Practical Journey
The Call to Lose Ourselves in the Ideal
The text teaches that when we let go of selfish ambition and embrace a higher spiritual ideal, we not only grow inwardly but also become channels of blessing in the lives of others. This echoes II Peter 1:5–7, where Peter urges believers to add to their faith virtues like goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. These qualities are not for personal glory but for service to others, reflecting Christ’s life.
True greatness, Jesus reminds us, lies not in domination but in service: “He that would be the greatest among you, let him be the servant of all.” By aligning ourselves with this principle, we create a democracy of the soul—a recognition that all people are equal before God regardless of differing abilities.
Unity in Diversity
Just as the body, mind, and soul are distinct yet work together, so should nations unite their religious, economic, and political spheres in cooperation. This unity is reflected in Genesis 33, where Jacob and Esau—though very different in temperament and history—come together in reconciliation. Harmony is achieved when each part fulfills its role without attempting to dominate the other, much like the planets in their ordered orbits or the organs of the body in healthy function.
Forcing our opinions or ideals on others distorts this harmony. The text emphasizes that each soul must find God personally: “God is not individual until He becomes personal.” Paradoxically, the more personal our relationship with God becomes, the more we lose the selfish ego and become selfless—impersonal in the sense of being a universal servant to all.
Reassurance in the Journey of Faith
Being human, we long for reassurance, especially in times of loss and uncertainty. The narratives of Genesis 33–50 illustrate this truth. When Jacob mourned Joseph as dead, he received no vision or reassurance, despite God’s earlier promises. Perhaps this was a testing of faith, or a reaping of his earlier deceits. This silence underscores the mystery of divine timing: God had not forgotten, but Jacob had to endure a period of trial.
Joseph’s story especially reveals how holding fast to the ideal carries us through uncertainty. Sold into slavery, betrayed, and imprisoned, Joseph nevertheless lived as if God’s promises were true. Like Peter reminds us in II Peter 1:8–9, those who cultivate divine virtues remain fruitful even in trials. Joseph trusted in God’s unseen purposes, and in time he became the instrument of salvation for his family. His life was a material foreshadowing of Christ’s spiritual mission.
Joseph as a Foreshadowing of Christ
The parallels between Joseph and Jesus highlight the manifestation of the ideal in both material and spiritual form. Joseph’s dreams, pondered by Jacob, resemble the way Mary pondered Jesus’ early wisdom (Luke 2:19, 51). Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers, descent into Egypt, and eventual exaltation mirror Christ’s betrayal, suffering, and exaltation. Both lives demonstrate that the material is but a reflection of the spiritual ideal.
Thus, Joseph serves as a living parable: through patience, forgiveness, and fidelity to God’s purposes, the material realm can reveal divine truth. In this way, we are reminded to “run with patience the race set before us” and to “wait on the Lord” (cf. II Peter 3:8; Hebrews 12:1).
The Inner Work of Attaining the Ideal
The A Search for God material deepens this perspective:
The ideal is spiritual, rooted in God’s truth, not something mortals can manufacture.
Each soul bears God’s image and can become one with Him while remaining unique.
The way to live this ideal is to see Christ in others, refusing to judge, condemn, or speak harshly.
As Christ’s Spirit grows within us, we become freer, more awake, and more creative in blessing others. This ideal is tested in daily life: in reconciliation like Jacob and Esau, in suffering like Joseph, and in service like Jesus. But in all, the call is the same: to love, to serve, to trust, and to wait patiently on God’s promises.
Summary
Attaining the ideal means:
Losing the self in service and love, finding our true self in God.
Living in unity with others, honoring diversity without domination.
Trusting God’s timing even when reassurance is absent.
Seeing Christ in others and embodying patience, forgiveness, and love.
Like Joseph, we are called to be material manifestations of God’s spiritual ideal. Like Peter exhorts, we are to grow in virtue and steadfastness. And like Christ, we are invited to embody service as the highest form of greatness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You are my Ideal, my Source, and my Strength. Teach me to serve others as Jesus served, with patience, humility, and love. When I am tempted to grow fearful or discouraged, remind me of Joseph who endured trials but trusted in You, and of Peter who called us to add virtue to faith, love to knowledge, and patience to perseverance.
Help me to see Christ in my brothers and sisters. Let me not force my way or my opinion, but guide me to walk gently, listening for Your voice. May Your Spirit of reassurance quiet my doubts, strengthen my steps, and make me a co-worker with You in all I do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Meditation
Centering thought: “The Ideal is Christ, and in Him all is fulfilled.”
Breath practice:
Inhale slowly: “I wait on the Lord.”
Exhale gently: “He is mindful of me.”
Visualization: Picture Joseph in prison, holding to hope. Then see him raised to a place of service. Let this image remind you that even when God seems silent, His purposes are unfolding.
Silent reflection: Rest in God’s presence. Allow yourself to feel His assurance: you are never forgotten, always held, and always being shaped into His Ideal.
Close with gratitude: “Thank You, Lord, for Your promises that never fail.”
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