First Things First
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Salt and Light
Bible Verse & Affirmation for October
by Rev Dinah Pemberton
Rays of One Light: Weekly Commentaries on the Bible and The Bhagavad Gita
First Things First
Truth is one and eternal. Realize oneness with it in your deathless Self, within.
The following commentary is based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.
That expression, “First things first,” is a piece of counsel often given to students of business techniques. It is the advice of practicality to those who aspire to worldly success. But according to the Hermetic doctrine, “As above, so below,” that which works best in one level of life is often the best guide to what will work best on every other level. If a person is true to his highest priorities, he will generally find that his other needs are fulfilled naturally as well.
This is true, certainly, of the search for God. One of the greatest sayings of Jesus Christ was this simple sentence, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 6:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Paramhansa Yogananda gave his elder brother Ananta a wonderful lesson in this truth. It was Ananta who had captured him and brought him back from his flight to the Himalayas, described by Yogananda in Autobiography of a Yogi. In Yogananda’s book we read how Ananta later challenged him, in the city of Agra, to pit his divine faith against such “practical” worldly considerations as the need for earning a living. Fearless before that challenge, the young aspirant agreed to go by train, without any money, to the nearby town of Brindaban; not to miss a single meal in Brindaban; and to find his way back to Agra without begging and without in any other way asking for help. In one of the most thrilling chapters in the book, Yogananda fulfilled all the conditions of the test. Yogananda continued the account:
As the tale was unfolded, my brother turned sober, then solemn.
“The law of demand and supply reaches into subtler realms than I had supposed.” Ananta spoke with a spiritual enthusiasm never before noticeable. “I understand for the first time your indifference to the vaults and vulgar accumulations of the world.”
Late as it was, my brother insisted that he receive diksha (initiation) into Kriya Yoga.
As the Bhagavad Gita puts it in the ninth Chapter:
Those who worship lesser gods go to their gods…but those who worship Me come to Me.
Thus, through holy Scripture, God has spoken to mankind.
Whispers From Eternity
154. Keep me away from Evil
Bless me that I hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil, dream no evil, think no evil, and feel no evil.
Paramhansa Yogananda
Inspiration from The Rays of One Light and The Salt and the Light
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We will take these sacred words into our meditation together for deep reflection and contemplation. But firstly, we will listen to some beautiful music by Paramhansa Yogananda, “What Lightning Flash”.
What Lightning Flash
Listen to What Lightning Flash
Reflect, Meditate and Listen to Instrumental Music
Reflect
Meditate
Refection & Inspiration from The Rays of the One Light
Peace Sangha
Today, I was inspired by the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 6, from The Rays of the One Light.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,"
I believe that this verse carries a message that resonates with the core of our spiritual journey. When we consciously choose to align our hearts, minds, and actions with God's divine purpose or will, we open ourselves to the hopeful possibility that all other aspects of our lives will naturally and harmoniously fall into place.
This alignment requires sincere and ongoing reflection on what we hold most important to us, ensuring that our values are firmly and deeply rooted in faith, integrity, and unconditional love. It is an open invitation to trust beyond what we can see, embracing a path where spiritual priorities shape our daily decisions and bring us lasting peace.
This week, I invite you to think about what this bible verse means to you as well.
A Prayer for Putting God First
Dear Divine Presence,
Guide our hearts to seek you above all else, to place your will before our own desires, and to trust in your divine timing.
Help us to walk each day with faith and courage, to surrender our worries and fears into your hands, and to find peace in knowing you are always near. May our actions reflect your love and grace, and may our lives be a testament to your goodness.
Strengthen us in moments of doubt, and remind us that when we put you first, all things will be added unto us.
Aum Peace Amen.