"Who then," asked David, "is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?" (I Chron. 29:5.)
Consecration of service is consecration of self. He who consecrates himself in obedience to the divine will, and in understanding of his relationship to God, knows that in this consciousness all that is entitled to the name of service is included. Whatever may be its outward form, that which is consistently identified with the divine Mind in love and loyalty expresses the true meaning of service.
With Christ Jesus, sonship and service were inseparable. In oneness with the Father he consecrated his unfolding mission as Saviour of the world. When men learn that the purpose and fulfillment of all service is to express the divine nature, not only the work they are engaged on, but every thought they bring to it, is seen to call for consecration to the Christ ideal. In this way alone is service lifted above the belief of chance and insecurity, of toil and monotony, of personal homage and personal enmity, into the realm of Mind. Thus exalted, it cannot fail to bring manifold blessings to all whom it concerns.
On page 428 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes: "We should consecrate existence, not 'to the unknown God' whom we 'ignorantly worship,' but to the eternal builder, the everlasting Father, to the Life which mortal sense cannot impair nor mortal belief destroy." And in the margin are these words: "Intelligent consecration." Consecration thus understood is the preservation of thought and action one with divine Principle in the service of "the eternal builder."
Thought intelligently consecrated does not entertain as real or with power to harm that which would delay or prevent the work of spiritual building. Apathy and indifference, rivalry and envy, the cruelties and injustices of mortal sense, do not deter or intimidate the thought which is intelligently consecrated. In his service for mankind Jesus maintained the serenity of spiritual selfhood. He not only had peace and joy for himself, but could and did draw upon them without measure for others. Such was the intelligence of his consecration, the genius of his loving, that they never failed him, whatever he was called upon to do. Herein lies the proof of sonship which is service.
Neither ingratitude nor hostility, neither the murderous intent to kill nor its seeming fulfillment, could rob Jesus of his reward. He knew that his service was perfect because he knew whom he served. "I do always those things that please him," he said (John 8:29). To have only one master, that is, divine Principle, does not render men less able or willing to work with or for others. On the contrary, it makes them better workmen. Loyalty, integrity, industry, zeal, and purpose are rendered more valuable when they are first dedicated in the service of God. And, further, they evince thereby an ever-widening understanding of the right solution of problems, whether individual or collective, which continue to baffle and defeat mankind.
Jesus' concept of service was wholly different from that of the world he came to save. He showed no reverence or even high regard for worldly greatness, whether of possession or position. In Luke we read that he put this question to his disciples— and he answered it with his own example (22:27): "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth." Those who received the service he had to give were healed, comforted, enlightened, redeemed.
To teach men the understanding and love of God, this was the service to which Jesus was consecrated during his three years of ministry. Freedom from the bondage of sickness and sin was the keynote of his message. In the service of God, men learn that His kingdom is also their kingdom. In this Christly teaching not only mortal estimates of value and importance are laid aside, and the qualities of Spirit take their place, but every false law of penalty is seen in the presence of divine Love to be without power to harm.
Do men desire health and peace, joy and abundance, for themselves, for others, for the human race? Then they must learn to know Him whom hitherto they have either worshiped ignorantly or not at all. This is the way of deliverance from the fears and sorrows of existence, at the mercy of mortal sense and mortal belief. This is the way whereby in intelligent consecration servitude is replaced by service.
On page 3 of the textbook Mrs. Eddy writes: "The Divine Being must be reflected by man,—else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One 'altogether lovely;' but to understand God is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire." In this devotion of thought, of energy, of desire, the Christly standard is lifted up and service is seen in its expression of the divine qualities to be the evidence of sonship, the revelation of the presence and power of God among men.
Absolute consecration of thought in the intelligence that Mind imparts, absolute consecration of energy in the zeal and vigor of Spirit, absolute consecration of desire in the warmth and tenderness of Love—these will render our service well-pleasing; these will bring to us and to others the continual renewal of a peace and joy which are boundless.
The writer of the ninety-first Psalm has illustrated in poetic symbolism the reward of intelligent consecration. The thought which dwells "in the secret place of the most High" abides "under the shadow of the Almighty." It is preserved from evil because it knows where its refuge and security are. The energy which is consecrated in the divine service meets and overcomes the terrors which beset mankind. It sees violence and aggression fall before the might of Mind and finally overcome. To the desire which is consecrated comes the fulfillment of the promise, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation" (Ps. 91:16). Satisfaction and salvation in the now of eternity comprise the kingdom of heaven, not afar off and without, but here and within.
Jesus knew the life which cannot be impaired or destroyed by mortal belief, because he knew God. Of him our Leader writes (Rudimental Divine Science,p.3): "Jesus' healing was spiritual in its nature, method, and design. He wrought the cure of disease through the divine Mind, which gives all true volition, impulse, and action."
Thought, energy, and desire, directed, impelled, inspired of Mind, are the evidence of sonship. It is this which heals humanity of all its ills, because it is the Christ, Truth, made manifest in service. As the result of intelligent consecration, men learn to know what are the nature, method, and design of the eternal builder; they perceive how to do those things which please Him.
Clear and indisputable therefore, in the light of this understanding, is Paul's statement (I Cor. 3:21), "All things are yours." It is further confirmed, established, amplified, in the words which follow, "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
