A friend of mine put himself through college painting classic, sports, and race cars. To produce the highest-quality finish, he had to sand painstakingly all the way down to bare metal before applying primer. If he didn't, even a minuscule element of impurity, such as rust, would adulterate the final finish. Once the layers of primer, then paint, had been meticulously applied, there was still work to be done to properly protect the beautiful finish. Each of these processes involved long hours of hard work. There were no shortcuts. The results of his labors were beautiful, lustrous, prize-winning finishes.
An appreciation of quality is an indication of our genuine, spiritual nature. Because our true selfhood is God's image, as the Bible teaches, we all include a natural, inner motivation to express the perfection inherent in the divine nature, to express excellence and goodness. Putting this into practice, however, requires effort on our part. Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health, "Christian Science is not an exception to the general rule, that there is no excellence without labor in a direct line." Science and Health, p. 457 Excellence requires devotion of thought and effort — it always has and always will.
Christ Jesus often required those in need of healing to demonstrate their commitment to healing — for instance, to wash in a pool, or to stand, pick up the invalid bed, and walk. See John 9:7; 5:8 It wasn't a particular ceremony or physical activity that produced the healings these individuals experienced. It was the power of
