AS in climbing a ladder we go up one step at a time, so in progressing Godward we go upward step by step. What are the steps which lead to the divine heights? In the Beatitudes, Christ Jesus points out some of them, and shows that as they are taken they result in blessings; indeed, he begins each statement with a benediction, and ends each with a special promise.
The first step he mentions is humility, or the conscious sense of spiritual need, by which we advance toward God. "The poor in spirit," or the humble thought, is conscious of the need for something higher than human aid can afford; and of those who hold this attitude, Jesus says, "Their's is the kingdom of heaven." When we turn unreservedly to God we find Him, find good, and are consequently in possession of the kingdom, of the spiritual ability to think and act in accordance with divine Mind. The realization of one's helplessness without God necessarily precedes the realization of His allness and infinite love, and of His tender willingness to help and to save.
As one progresses, one awakes to the fact that discord and inharmony are the result of seeming separation from God, even as the prodigal son awoke to recognize that because of his separation from his father's house he was in a most miserable state. In our penitence we turn toward our Father's house; and as in the parable the father saw his wayward son "yet a great way off, . . . and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him," so divine Love meets us when we are sufficiently sorry for wrongdoing sincerely to want to do better. "Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform and the very easiest step. The next and great step required by wisdom is the test of our sincerity,—namely, reformation;" so Mrs. Eddy, our beloved Leader, has written on page 5 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
